Mt. Hope Gets Pumped for Annual Thanksgiving Day Game

Students wrapped in blankets watched from behind the caution tape as men poured gasoline onto the pile of pallets stacked high on the field at .  The crowd hooted and cheered as the first flame was lit under a large wooden board mounted in the middle of the pallets with the painted word, "Eagles", crossed out.

"Burn the Eagles!" one student yelled as flames devoured the board.

The event, all to promote school spirit, was put on by the senior class with help from the Bristol and Warren Substance Abuse Task Forces, Warren Recreation Board, Town Council, Town Manager, and , Terra's Landscaping, parents and donations from local businesses.

"I think this is really cool," said Nick Murgo, a player for the freshman football team.

Murgo, along with six of his freshman teammates, will be playing alongside the varsity players for the first time in the Thanksgiving Day game against Barrington.

"It's kind of like a privilege," said Murgo. "We are nervous. I mean it is our first varsity game ever."

Captains of the varsity team, however, have no doubt that they will break Barrington's winning streak.

"I have a good feeling about the game," said junior captain Theo Moskala. "Last year we were not as focused because we had a playoff game to worry about after Thanksgiving. But this year, we are giving it all of our effort."

Senior captain Kyle Batista agreed, pointing out that although the Barrington team is twice the size of the Mt. Hope team, it is not a match of numbers but a match of each team's best 11 players.

"I think our chances are pretty good," he said.

Ron Silva, head coach of the varsity football team for the past four years, also shed some insight on his feelings going into the game.

"It has been a long year, and these boys have worked hard, between the regular season and our camp in the summer," said Silva. "We are going against a well coached, very good team, but the boys are really excited and hopefully good things happen."

But in a time of joy and excitement, there are feelings of sadness. For senior cheerleaders and football players, the Thanksgiving Day game marks their last chance to shine on the Mt. Hope field.

"I'm really upset," said senior cheerleader Janelle Canario. "Most of us have been together since we were eight years old.

Batista echoed similar feelings about his last time playing with the varsity football team.

 "It hasn't really set in yet," said Batista. "I know it's going to hit me when I hand the flowers to my parents and walk off the field tomorrow. It is going to be hard because this team really is a family."