WPCNR PRESS BOX. November 24, 2004: As the Stepinac Crusaders of Archbishop Stepinac High School on Mamamaroneck Avenue and their crosstown rivals of White Plains High School battle today, fans should enjoy it. It could be the last Thanksgiving Day game if the Tigers or Crusaders have an exceptional season next year and go deep into the high school playoffs.
The possibility of no Tiger-Crusader game next year has arisen because of the football playoffs, now threaten traditional Thanksgiving Day rivalry games, if you’re a good team.
White Plains High Football Coach, Mark Santa-Donato, way back when football started in August. Photo, WPCNR Sports Archive.
WPCNR asked White Plains Football Coach, Mark Santa-Donato to explain the 10-game rule that threatens the game everyone in White Plains loves.
As far as the State and Section I canceling the (Turk ey Bowl) game someday – as the rule stands you are not supposed to play more than 10 games – unless you are involved in the Sectional and/or State Play-Offs.
We have played 11 games, 4 times, and never had a problem with the State and any sanctions. Since the Harrison-Rye issue last year, the state has come down hard on any team wanting to play more than 10 games.
This year the Stepinac game is our 10th game so there is no problem. The problem is when we get into a Bowl Game or continue on into the Section Semi-Finals, Finals, then State competition.
We have always had a verbal agreement with Stepinac that if we did not get to the State Finals and had enough legal days (4 nights rest), to get ready, we would play the Thanksgiving game.
Now with the state watching, things are different. We are hoping the state will reconsider and understand that we have been playing on Thanksgiving since the early 30’s. Our situation is a bit different than Harrison and Rye.
We are not asking for an extra game, we just want to keep doing what we have traditionally done in the past. We hope to be granfathered in with the Thanksgiving Game and continue to play the game in the future.
If we did not participate in the Section I Playoffs, our season would end the 3rd week of October and we would have to wait 5 or 6 weeks to play on Thanksgiving. If we cancel the Thanksgiving Game that would be tragic for the community and the teams. Either situation is not a good one.
Hopefully this will be worked out over the winter.
Coach Santa-Donato
