Sports

Central High School Wins Thanksgiving Game Vs. Northeast, Continuing Rivalry's Long History In Philadelphia

"It means everything," said Northeast alum Pete Ciarrocchi. "It's the oldest high school rivalry publicly in the country."

(CBS3)

November 28, 2025

Central and Northeast high schools added another chapter to a storied Philadelphia sports tradition Thursday, meeting on the football field for the 126th time in what many consider the oldest public high school rivalry in the country.

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Alumni packed the stands as the longtime rivals clashed in a game that stayed tight into the fourth quarter. Central ultimately sealed a 22–14 victory with a late pick six, marking the school's first win over Northeast in more than a decade.

"It means everything," said Northeast alum Pete Ciarrocchi. "It's the oldest high school rivalry publicly in the country."

Find out what's happening in Philadelphiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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