Annual Thanksgiving Day Classic

As the Ellington Knights and the Coventry Patriots football teams prepare for the Annual Thanksgiving Day Classic, the Town of Ellington is preparing to welcome home two local heroes.

Coincidentally, both events will take place at Ellington High School on Thanksgiving Day - November 22, 2012 - at 10:30 a.m. The Knights invite everyone to begin their holiday with a serving of Pequot Uncas Football, a game that will determine state playoff participation for both teams. The game will also feature special guest appearances by the Somers Spartan, the Ellington Knight, pilgrims, a turkey, and Santa to pull the winning ticket in the annual raffle.

More importantly the team will also welcome back to Ellington senior Troy Russell who is recovering from serious injuries sustained in a swimming accident this past summer. In addition, the team will be led to the field by Private Jason Hoffman of the United States Marine Corps. Private Hoffman was a starting offensive lineman with the Knights in the last two Turkey Day Classics and has just completed basic training with the Marine Corps.

As always, the Knights have received tremendous support from the Ellington Fire Department and the department will not only present the nations colors for the game, but they have agreed to provide an escort for santa at halftime. The Ellington cheerleaders will be tossing commemorative mini footballs to spectators throughout the day, and as has become the tradition at Ellington, if the Knights score a touchdown, the 110-year-old cannon will roar to life. The pageantry of the day is always fun for the kids and the football game on the field promises to be of the highest caliber.

Please join the Knights for breakfast at the snack bar or a hot bowl of chilli at lunch. Gates will open at 9:30 a.m. It is going to be a fun morning for everyone.

The Knights would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and we hope to see you at Ellington High for this important game.