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EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP - Alfred Thomas watched his son, Stephan, score the first of two touchdowns Thursday at the high school's new Silver Eagle Stadium as the appreciative crowd cheered.

Thomas, who, like his son, played halfback, smiled.

"These kids play hard. They don't want to lose to anyone," he said.

For high schools across southern New Jersey, the Thanksgiving Day game is a community celebration - part class reunion, part block party.

Spectators at Egg Harbor Township gave the players a hearty welcome home for their first game in the new stadium. The Eagles were undefeated in nine consecutive road games. And no game could be a better homecoming than one against traditional rival Mainland Regional High School.

The stands were decorated with banners and silver and black balloons. The field's summer-green turf was in pristine condition with a gleaming silver eagle at midfield and crisp lettering in the end zones. But the area surrounding the field was a muddy ring still awaiting sod. A yellow backhoe parked nearby and the construction trailers were reminders that the project is not finished.

But the fans in the new aluminum bleachers resumed familiar traditions such as loudly booing penalties called against the team and stomping their feet in time with the cheerleading squad's commands.

Nearly as many spectators milled around the concession stand to socialize as those who packed the stands. Sergio Brattich, a freshman at Rutgers University, met friends he has not seen since graduation last summer.

For him, the final score Thursday was incidental, he said.

"I came because I knew everyone would be here," he said. "This is the only opportunity I have to see them."

"Thanksgiving games are always a big social event," high school parent John Welsh said. "People come back for the holidays and see people they haven't seen in years. Plus, it works up a good appetite being outside."

Nicole Renaud, 28, of Somers Point, graduated from Mainland Regional in 1999. She stood on the home side of the field rooting for her team.

"Quietly rooting," she said, surrounded by Silver Eagles fans.

When the final seconds ticked off the clock in EHT's 25-7 victory, the winning players rushed the field, helmets held high. The dispirited Mustangs gathered at midfield to congratulate the victors.

Cheerleading mom Annette Williams hugged and photographed the Egg Harbor Township players. Her daughters, senior Angela and sophomore Melissa, are cheerleaders.

"Tejay, love you, baby!" she shouted to Tejay Johnson, who trotted over and kissed her on the cheek.

"We were road warriors this year, but we had a really good fan section," Williams said. "We just treated the away games like they were our home field."

Alumnus Mike Chambers watched the game with keen interest. He played middle linebacker on a winless team 25 years ago that suffered a stinging Thanksgiving Day loss to Mainland.

In those days, the players scoured the cow pasture of a practice field each day to pick up any stray rocks.

Watching another generation go undefeated was sweet, he said.

He still can recall the adrenaline that game stirred so long ago.

"It was the last game of the season. It was intense. You were the maximum psyched up you could be for the game," he said.

How long did it take to get over the big loss?

"I really haven't," he said, grinning.

Contact Michael Miller:

609-463-6712

MMiller@pressofac.com

1 comment:

• JerseyDevil (544) posts 5:14 am

  A few years ago I was one of the worse EHT dejected fan.I let them have it a few years ago when they were very bad.I wrote how they stunk week after week trying to get them real mad. Many students wrote in and said,"Wait until next year". I retorted that they were full of crap.It is now "Next Year" and I am full of crap and very happy to say so.This year is the best team that I can remember. I promose that I will never speak bad of the EHT Football team ever again. "GO EAGLES"

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