Thanksgiving History: Two Former Rivals Look Back at Their Playing Days

Armand Caraviello can't remember the score of his final Malden-Medford Thanksgiving Day game. He knows it was a low-scoring game that his Mustangs just barely won, but the final score is fuzzy. 

"That's a long way back," said Caraviello with a laugh. "We won my senior year. I can't even remember the score, but it was very low, probably like an 8-6 game or something like that."

Actually the score was an 8-0 shutout for Medford. But it's understandable why the exact number eludes Caraviello. He last played for the Mustangs way back in 1955.

Back then, the rivalry was a mere 66 years old. That seems like nothing compared to this Thursday's showdown, which will mark the 121st year and the 123rd meeting between the the two teams. 

Caraviello was the starting halfback that year for a Medford team that finished with a .500 record overall. But while the team was out of playoff contention, records went out the window on Thanksgiving morning.

"I still think, regardless of what the records are for either team, they play this game as if it's the most important game of the year," said Caraviello. "The game was always heated. It's very traditional. It's a game that you carry over to the next season especially if you're coaching, or even if you're a player. It's a very intense game and the rivalry is just a great one. If you had a lousy season and you could win that game, that could make the season for you."

But while 1955 was Caraviello's last season at Medford, Domenic Fermano was just getting his first taste of the rivalry as a sophomore at Malden High School. Fermano admitted that he was nervous when he played his first Thanksgiving Day game, especially since he grew up watching it every year. 

"I always knew about the rivalry because as kids we used to jump over the fence and go to the game," said Fermano. "I was born and raised on Malden St. which is about a five minute walk from the stadium. As a kid you always wanted to come running out onto the field and say that you've participated in the Thanksgiving Day game."

Malden would avenge its 1955 loss the following year with a 20-6 win, and in 1957, Malden won it again, 19-14. As a senior captain and halfback, Fermano powered the Malden offense with a pair of touchdowns. 

"It was like our Super Bowl," said Fermano who still lives in Malden and serves as the City Controller. "Back then we had about 11,000 at that game my senior year. When I played it was the 70th game. It's a game that's not like any other game in the course of your career. It's a great atmosphere."

That atmosphere is something that can be expected year in and year out when these two teams get together. And things were no different in the 1970's, when Caraviello took over as head coach from 1970-1982. 

Caraviello said his coaching career stands out more for him than his playing days, with 1978 proving to be a year that he'll remember forever. 

With Medford and Malden meeting for the 89th time, both teams had a shot to claim the Greater Boston League title. 

"(Malden) gave us one great game," said Caraviello. "They were leading the game with about four minutes left. We were down on the 4-yard line. It was decision time whether I was going to kick the field goal or try to run the play in for the touchdown. We decided to kick the field goal and we won the game."

"I can remember the field was frozen," added Caraviello. "There was still snow from the hashmarks to the sidelines on both sides."

Medford took the GBL title with that win and clinched a spot in the Super Bowl, where the Mustangs went on to beat Walpole, 29-8. 

Since the rivalry began, thousands of players have taken part in the Thanksgiving Day game in the 123 meetings between the two teams. But while the teams change on a year-to-year basis, the rivalry remains as heated as ever. 

"The intensity is always there," said Caraviello. "The crowds were great crowds. I can remember just sitting on Pearl St., we were on the visitor side and the place would be packed and people would still be coming in. I can remember coaching in front of crowds of 12,000." 

Whether you're from Malden or Medford, whether you played in the game or not, or whether you're just a casual fan of the sport, the Thanksgiving Day rivalry between the Mustangs and the Golden Tornadoes is something unique to all sports. 

With just the Wellesley-Needham rivalry (1882) and the Boston Latin-Boston English rivalry (1887) surpassing it in age, this Thursday's game is sure to be another exciting showdown in the long and storied history of Medford and Malden football. 

"I think the atmosphere is still there," said Fermano. "It's embedded in those people who lived in Malden, grew up in Malden, went to school in Malden, played in Malden. Even if you don't live here. My brother lives in Peabody and he still comes down to the game. He was a captain in 1973. It's not something that goes away. It gets embedded in you."