Our Town | written by: ALI VON KENNEL for the Blue Wave Booster Club
Photo courtesy Blue Wave Booster Club
Sports rivalries. Few things bring out such powerful passions. UNC/Duke, Army/Navy, Ohio State/Michigan, Texas/Oklahoma and Auburn/Alabama to name a few. In Connecticut high school football, there is the annual Thanksgiving Day battle between the Darien Blue Wave and the New Canaan Rams—the Turkey Bowl. But it’s so much more than a football game; it’s a deep tradition rooted in our towns, a community event that brings us together in support of our respective teams and a symbol of local pride—a match up that captivates the hearts of residents from both towns.
The Turkey Bowl dates back to 1928 when Darien and New Canaan decided to square off on the football field for the first time on Thanksgiving Day. Darien won the first meeting, 26-6, in a game played at the Ox Ridge Hunt Club on Middlesex Road in Darien.
It has been a constant ever since—through wars, economic turmoil and societal changes. Even at the height of COVID in 2020, a version of the Turkey Bowl was played when the Darien Junior Football League (DJFL) and other youth football organizations across Fairfield County rose to the challenge and welcomed back the high school players into their respective organizations, enabling a football season that culminated in the Turkey Bowl, which Darien won.
This game has grown to become one of the most anticipated sporting events in the region, encompassing history, rivalry and community spirit and often carrying more weight than the actual team records. While it has implications for league (CIAC) standings, teams can lose the season but win the Turkey Bowl and still feel like a champion. It serves also as a yearly reminder of our ties to the past, present and future—as we participate and take our turn in this great Thanksgiving tradition.
For the Blue Wave seniors, it is the beginning of the end of a football journey that started in elementary or middle school playing in the DJFL.
“It’s the culmination of a grueling football season against a team you have been playing against for 10+ years,” said Darien High School (DHS) Head Football Coach Andrew Grant of the Turkey Bowl. “You know their names, you know their faces, and you know your friends and family will be there. It is a great event. Throw out the previous nine games,* everyone—players, coaches and fans—are all in,” he continued.
The rivalry has created a sense of unity within each town, both teams representing their community’s hopes and dreams, while carrying the weight of expectations and pride. These young athletes are playing in front of thousands of fans – friends, family, alumni and members of the school administration. The intensity and pressure are real.
“Regardless of your interest in the sport or love for the holiday staple that inspired the game’s name—there’s nothing that unites friends, family and townspeople than a frigid November morning football game between two towns that dislike each other so much yet relate on that same level too,” reflected Britton Barthold, DHS Class of 2016 and a former member of the football team, who authored 12. The Story of the 2015 DHS Football Team, memorializing the impact of Darien football and the Turkey Bowl on so many lives.
The Turkey Bowl holds deep significance for the players themselves. For high school athletes, playing in this rivalry game is a dream come true. The intensity of the competition, the spotlight on the field and the energy from the crowd all contribute to the experience. It’s a moment they remember for the rest of their lives, regardless of the final score.
“When you look back on your high school football career, you probably won’t remember all the games you played …but you will remember the Turkey Bowls you played,” said former Blue Wave football team member and current Darien resident Scott Hapgood.
Beyond the field, the Turkey Bowl teaches young athletes valuable life lessons about teamwork, dedication and hard work. They learn how to handle pressure and adversity, and the importance of community, taking them far beyond the gridiron and preparing them for future challenges. The Turkey Bowl has also become a symbol of giving back through the “Most Generous Town” competition created in 2017 to channel the rivalry into a parallel competition for donations to local nonprofits in the week leading up to the game.
The Turkey Bowl is a celebration of history, a reflection of rivalry, a source of community unity, a learning experience for young athletes, and a reminder of the importance of tradition and giving back. It has transcended the realm of sports and become a cherished ritual that binds the two communities together, creating indelible memories and shared experiences.
The Blue Wave Booster Club is Darien’s nonprofit supporting all sports and student activities. For more information or to become a member, go to https://bluewavebc.org.
*The Turkey Bowl is typically the last regular game of the season.
