Andover, North Andover To Play Thanksgiving Week Game At Fenway

ANDOVER, MA — Andover and North Andover will play their Thanksgiving rivalry football game in a special setting this year: Fenway Park.

The two varsity football teams were selected to play one of four Thanksgiving week high school games at the historic stadium.

The Golden Warriors and Scarlet Knights will play the second game of a doubleheader, Nov. 23.

"Friends, family and fans are encouraged to attend and enjoy the continuation of a long history of high school football at America’s most beloved ballpark ahead of the inaugural Wasabi Fenway Bowl, an annual college football bowl game at Fenway Park on December 29," Fenway Sports Management said in a news release.

North Andover and Andover are expected to kick off around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23 at Fenway. The game will kick off 40 minutes after Game 1, between East Boston and South Boston, concludes. That game will begin at 5 p.m.

Andover's varsity cheerleaders and marching band will participate, the district said in a news release.

"This is a unique opportunity for Andover High School to showcase the talents of our football team, cheerleaders and marching band," Andover Superintendent Magda Parvey said. "It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our families to support these students in such an iconic ballpark."

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According to a news release, Fenway hosted high school football games from 1912 to 1935. High school football returned to the ballpark after an 80-year absence for Thanksgiving games in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

“We are delighted to welcome high school student-athletes from these eight local schools to participate in the unique experience of playing football at Fenway, just one month prior to the first-ever Wasabi Fenway Bowl,” said Fenway Sports Management President Mark Lev in a statement. “High school football at the ballpark dates back more than a century, so we are thrilled to link the past while helping to create lifelong memories for student-athletes, their families, and their communities.”

Tickets are available starting at $20 per ticket at https://www.mlb.com/redsox/tickets/events/high-school-football.

Twenty-five percent of each ticket sold will go to the school each patron is supporting.

Dell Technologies Suites will also be available for the games. Suites can be purchased by contacting bmorse@redsox.com.

"The Andover vs. North Andover game could be played anywhere on any surface and the players' intensity would rise, but to have this classic game be played at iconic Fenway Park will take the rivalry to another level," Andover Varsity Football Coach EJ Perry said. "For the players, this event will be one of their lifetime memories. We are all Fenway Faithful, but for the Andover and North Andover players, they will be loyal forever. Every player will remember running onto that field November 23rd."

"Playing at historic Fenway Park will be an amazing opportunity for our student-athletes to make a lifelong memory," Andover Athletic Director Bill Martin said. "This will be a fun night that we will be able to share with our school community."

"We are appreciative for the opportunity to play and perform at Fenway Park," Andover High School Principal Caitlin Brown said. "Our students have experienced such challenges in the past 20 months, this experience is a way for us to celebrate their resilience and hard work."

More information on the year's high school football games at Fenway is available here.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.