Catasauqua School Board Votes to Keep Thanksgiving Football Rivalry with Northampton Alive

The 101st gathering on the soccer field between Catasauqua and Northampton The rivalry showdown occurred on Thanksgiving Day 2024, and it looks like this intense competition will carry on for another season at minimum.

The Catasauqua Area School Board voted 6-2 on Tuesday night to extend the traditional Turkey Day clash.

I adore the Turkey Day pep rallies. I'm fond of the bonfire. I enjoy everything about it," stated Chris Wellington, who will be entering his final year as part of the Rough Riders football squad this autumn. "It's special to have that final match with my fellow seniors. Not being sure about what would happen after that last game made me think, 'I shouldn't let this be my finale. I mustn't miss out on playing in the last Turkey Day game.' This thought really pushed me forward.

The Catasauqua school board convened a special session on April 2 to address issues with the rivalry competition. During this gathering, members received a briefing outlining why the event has become less competitive recently, particularly due to the significant difference in school sizes.

There were 23 Catasauqua residents, many of them students and alumni, who spoke at the April 8 school board meeting and urged administrators to continue the game. In April, Wellington submitted a petition containing roughly 1,300 signatures advocating for the continuation of the Thanksgiving game. At that time, the board opted to postpone voting on the matter.

There were other residents who spoke on Tuesday night hoping the school board kept the Thanksgiving tradition alive.

"This goes beyond being simply a game for me and my family; it’s also about the community, the team, and many others who join us," stated Aiden Reilly, a sophomore who served as quarterback for the Rough Riders during the previous autumn.

Northampton, a Class 6A team, has overwhelmingly dominated Class 2A’s Catasauqua in recent times, securing victories in ten successive matches. The Konkrete Kids emerged victorious. 58-14 last season , 47-7 in 2023, 42-12 in 2022, 47-13 in 2021 and 63-0 in 2019.

Northampton holds an all-time series led with a score of 64-33-4 against Catasauqua.

The most recent win for the Rough Riders in this rivalry came with a score of 43-28 back in 2013. This win was also part of an impressive three-game winning streak. the series for Catasauqua. Those are the Rough Riders’ only three victories in the last 21 meetings.

Zachary Panto, a 2012 Catasauqua graduate, was part of a Rough Riders’ victory over Northampton in his senior season. He went on to serve in the Army, currently serves in the National Guard and is a software engineer.

“My particular story of being a kid who didn’t grow up playing football and then just learn, grow and improve and put myself out there. To be able to wear that jersey and be able to grow and develop into the man I am today,” Panto said. “To have the opportunity to go up against that caliber of competition and come out the other side successful, that has laid the foundation for most, if not all, of my professional success. I don’t think that it’s right to rob these young men of that opportunity.”

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting News in A Day with a subscription.

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@News in A Day .

©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit News in A Day. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.