High School Football's Thanksgiving Heroes

Eric Jacobsen, Westford — There's nothing like being a holiday hero and that's what Jacobsen became Thursday, kicking his first field goal of the season from 22 yards out in the last minute to lift the Grey Ghosts to a 30-28 win over Acton-Boxboro. That wasn't his only contribution. He also caught 12 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown.

Grant Chryssicas, Wellesley — In the 129th meeting of Needham and Wellesley, the senior running back scored four touchdowns and ran for 139 yards on 26 carries. The win was Wellesley's 10th of the season.

Jordan McAfee, Everett — Playing its first Thanksgiving game since 2011, Everett and its UConn-bound quarterback made it count, beating Masconomet, 35-24. McAfee was 20-of-27 passing for 243 yards and three touchdowns. Everett has one game left, a matchup with Xaverian in the Division 1 Super Bowl.

Jared Martino, Malden — The junior quarterback led the Golden Tornadoes to a 41-18 win over Medford in the 129th meeting of the longtime Greater Boston League rivals. Martino ran for 145 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 184 yards and two scores.

EJ Perry, Andover — The senior quarterback finished his record-setting career by throwing seven touchdown passes in a 49-20 win over North Andover. The seven tied him with Troy Flutie's single-season record of 47 and gave him a career total of 114. Perry also ran for 130 yards and finished the season with more than 1,000 rushing.

Sam Abate, Beverly — The senior back did a little bit of everything on the holiday, running for 100 yards and a touchdown in a 24-0 win over Salem. He also caught a 15-yard touchdown pass and added an interception in the win.

Broghean McGovern, Haverhill — In a 64-36 win over Lowell the senior quarterback threw for 295 yards and six touchdowns and ran for 185 yards and two more scores. The win gave Haverhill (9-2) the Merrimack Valley Large title.

Breven Walker, Taunton — The senior running back scored five touchdowns and finished with 250 yards on the ground as the Tigers beat cross-town rival Coyle & Cassidy, 55-26.

Khalil Blair, Cathedral — The junior back had 380 all-purpose yards as Cathedral beat Tech Boston, 46-14. Blair scored five touchdowns and ran for 220 yards.

Sam Randle, Concord-Carlisle — The Patriots clinched a share of the DCL Small title by beating Bedford, 46-28. In the win, Randle ran for 305 yards and six touchdowns, giving him 30 touchdowns for the season.

Jake Doherty, Peabody — The Tanners beat Saugus, 35-6, in part thanks to their senior back who ran for 150 yards and scored three touchdowns. The win also gave Peabody a 6-5 record for the second straight season.

Juan Elisma, Sharon — The senior back broke a 43-year old school record, running for 321 yards and scoring four touchdowns in a 33-8 win over Oliver Ames.

Ojany Belliard, Greater Lawrence — The senior back carried the Reggies to their seventh win, running for 216 yards and six touchdowns. He finished the year with 27 touchdowns, giving him 48 scores the past two years.

Joel Pastrana, East Boston — The senior back scored five touchdowns, four in the first half, in a 59-12 win over South Boston. He scored on runs of 32, 41, 75, and 55 yards and caught another of 20 yards.

Rocky Nelson, Woburn and Bill Maver, Acton-Boxboro — They used to be players so why not a final tip of the hat to coaches Nelson and Maver. Rocky celebrated his retirement after 47 years of coaching with a 22-21 win over Winchester. And up the road in Acton, Maver ended a 31-year career in a 30-28 loss to Westford.