Turkey Bowl Returns to the Pleasure of Fans in the White Plains Community
The Turkey Bowl, the City of White Plains high school rivalry football tradition dating back to 1971 returned this year after a three-year hiatus. Once again, White Plains High School played Stepinac High School in the annual Thanksgiving Day football game, held this year, at WPHS, on Thursday, Nov. 24, at 10:30 a.m.
The Turkey Bowl having been suspended for three years returned to White Plains thanks to the cooperation of the CHSFL, Section 1 and the CHSAA. The CHSAA pushed their New York State Championship back a week until Saturday, Dec. 3, so Stepinac as well as Cardinal Hayes High School, the 2016 CHSFL Champs could play in their annual Thanksgiving traditional games. Hayes played rival Mount St. Michael, in the Bronx, on Thanksgiving Day.
Stepinac was victorious over rival White Plains, 49-32, in this year’s Turkey Bowl. It was the fourth straight year that the Crusaders took home the Turkey Bowl Trophy.
But more important to the coaches, players, fans and the City of White Plains community, the Turkey Bowl went on as scheduled this year. “It is wonderful, it is such a great day for the entire White Plains community,” said City of White Plains Mayor Tom Roach. “The game is early so people can come out and enjoy the spirit of community and then go home and have dinner with their families,” expressed Roach, who watched the game on the sidelines.
Rosemarie Eller, the President of the White Plains Board of Education was a sideline spectator along with Board of Education Vice President Charlie Norris. “It is nice to have this game, it is great for the community, everyone is out congregating, and it is a great tradition for all of us. It is part of the fabric of the White Plains community,” said Eller.
Tigers’ running back Glenmour Osbourne scored four touchdowns in the game but it was not enough to beat the Crusaders. Osbourne scored the first two touchdowns of the game on a 48-yard run and four-yard run to give the Tigers early hope with a 12-0 lead.
But the Crusaders young kickoff return specialist sophomore Shawn Harris ran one back 73 yards to end the first quarter 12-7. Harris also caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Nicosia at the start of the second quarter to give Stepinac the lead 14-12.
The 43rd edition of the Turkey Bowl was a much more competitive contest than some people may have anticipated and Tigers star running back Osbourne made sure of it. Osbourne scored twice in the second quarter as well, once on a 12-yard run and again on a 41-yard dash.
But after Nicosia hit Harris on a 61-yard touchdown pass and safety Tyger Winston recovered a Tigers fumble and ran 42 yards for another score, things started to tilt the Crusaders way with the score 35-26, at the half.
The Tigers and Crusaders battled for City of White Plains bragging rights like the game meant more to them than any League Championship. When the other Winston brother, Tyler got into the act on a seven-yard quarterback keeper in the third quarter, the Crusaders all but put the game out of reach 42-26.
Therefore, the Crusaders won the revitalized traditional Turkey Bowl Thanksgiving Day Game with a 49-32 win over the rival Tigers. Nonetheless, everyone seemed to enjoy the day.
“The players came out and we were very physical up-front and we fought the entire game. I am proud the way the team fought,” said Tigers Head Coach Mike Lindberg. “It was a beautiful day and the crowds were back and it was an exciting game.” Lindberg was coaching his first White Plains Turkey Bowl Game.
“It was great that we got to play another Turkey Bowl. You always think in the back of your mind that you are not going to be able to get the game going again but it is important to the White Plains community and the alumni of both schools,” said Stepinac Head Coach Mike O’Donnell.
