This year’s traditional Thanksgiving football matchup between Camden Catholic and Paul VI High Schools brings a little extra gravy.
Although this year’s game is technically played the night before Thanksgiving, the rivalry remains strong, dating back to 1968. Even more appetizing this year is a matchup of two teams that are coming off fantastic regular seasons. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Paul VI’s Major Timothy M. Curry Field.
Camden Catholic (9-1) rolled into its first-round playoff matchup following nine straight wins, before bowing out to storied program Pope John XXIII Regional High School on Nov. 9. Paul VI (7-3) racked up six wins against a challenging regular season schedule and defeated Immaculata, 21-14, on Nov. 8 in the first round of the playoffs. The Eagles were eliminated in the quarterfinal round by top seed DePaul a week later.
It all sets the stage for an intriguing Nov. 27 matchup between a pair of schools about three miles apart. Historically, the two teams have met on the gridiron 57 times, and Camden Catholic leads the series 32-24, with one tie.
Recently, the Eagles have been significantly gaining ground. Paul VI has won the last four contests by a combined 150-7. Paul VI shifted the momentum with a 14-7 win in a 2020 meeting that was played in mid-November during a shortened pandemic season. Since then, the Eagles have won three straight lopsided shutout games. Leading up to the pandemic year, The Irish had taken five of the last six.
This year adds a new chapter, as the two teams have combined for 16 wins entering the season finale. The last time that happened was in 2007, when a 7-2 Camden Catholic defeated a 9-1 Paul VI squad by the slimmest of margins, 27-26.
Camden Catholic is led this season by senior quarterback Mike Moritz, who threw for 1,131 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Irish are also strong on the ground behind sophomore running back Nymir Daily, who has rushed for 762 yards and 11 touchdowns on 138 carries. Junior linebacker Sean O’Reilly steadies the Irish defense with a team-best 62 tackles (45 solo) long with two interceptions. Sophomore defensive back Bryce Clark has five interceptions and has returned four of them for touchdowns.
Paul VI also has a thousand-yard passer in junior quarterback Daulton Phalines (1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns). His favorite target this season was junior Tyree Roane (41 catches, 630 yards, six touchdowns. The Eagles’ ground game is led by sophomore Nate Klecko, who has 729 yards and seven touchdowns on 122 attempts. Defensively, senior Moe Keshen is a force with more than 100 solo tackles and three forced fumbles.
Around the Diocese, Gloucester Catholic (2-6) will renew its traditional Thanksgiving Day rivalry at Gloucester City High School (3-7) at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 28 against its crosstown rival. The public school has won the last four meetings by a combined score of 172-0. The Rams’ most recent win in the rivalry was in 2019 by a 12-9 margin. It was the last of four straight Thanksgiving wins by Gloucester Catholic. The teams will meet this year for the 50th time, with Gloucester City holding a 25-23-1 advantage.
Holy Spirit (9-1 through Nov. 21) will host longtime Turkey Day rival Atlantic City (8-3) at 10 a.m. on Nov. 28. The Spartans have won the last six meetings by a combined score of 259-68. One of the oldest Thanksgiving rivalries in South Jersey, the two teams met for the first time in 1926, and Holy Spirit holds a 51-40-4 advantage. There was no game played in 1929, 1942 and 1943.
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