5 Things to Know about the 103rd Turkey Bowl football game between Calvert Hall and Loyola Blakefield

Here are five things to know ahead of the traditional Thanksgiving Day football clash between Baltimore-area Catholic schools Calvert Hall College High School and Loyola Blakefield High School: 

When will the Turkey Bowl be played and how can I watch?

The game is scheduled for Nov. 23, 10 a.m., at Towson University’s Johnny Unitas Stadium. It can be watched in person by purchasing tickets ($10 for general admission) at the gates, which open at 8:30 a.m. or by visiting https://am.ticketmaster.com/towsonstudent/TurkeyBowl. For ticket questions, call 410-825-4266. The game can be viewed live on WMAR-TV (Channel 2) or on the station’s streaming channels.

WMAR also will broadcast The Brooks Financial Group Turkey Bowl Kickoff special Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Thanksgiving morning at 9 a.m. before kickoff.

What do I need to know if attending the Turkey Bowl in person?

Administrators suggest arriving early since a large crowd is expected for the 11,198-seat venue (more than 8,500 attended in 2022). Parking lots 4, 5, and 8 are for general parking. Additional parking is available at the Union Garage off Osler Drive. A designated drop-off/pick-up spot is located in the parking lot of Osler Medical Center for parents shuttling students and others.

A ticket is required for all guests, except infants and children under 2 years of age. All tickets are general admission, no assigned seats. Mobile ticket owners are encouraged to download their tickets to their phone’s digital wallet prior to arriving at the stadium.

Security checks will be in place. All guests will pass security wanding and bag checks. Only bags smaller than 22 inches x 12 inches x 8 inches are allowed into the stadium. There will be a claim check available for inadmissible items or bags. Only small telescopic umbrellas are allowed into the stadium. No sticks, flagpoles, etc. are permitted.

Concessions are cashless.

At the request of both schools, all tailgating is prohibited.

What’s the history of this matchup?

This will be the 103nd football meeting between the archrivals. The game had been played every year since Nov. 12, 1920 before the pandemic caused the cancellation of the game in 2020. It is believed to be the second-oldest football rivalry between Catholic schools in the United States. 

Loyola leads the all-time series 50-44-8.

The Loyola Dons ended a six-game losing streak to Calvert Hall in 2021, defeating the Cardinals, 41-35, in the 101st showdown before an announced crowd of 8,165. However, Calvert Hall turned the tables in 2022, defeating their archrival, 17-14, before 8,529 fans.

Both schools predate the Civil War. The Christian Brothers founded Calvert Hall in 1845; the Jesuits opened what is now Loyola Blakefield in 1852.

How have the teams fared coming into this final game of the season?

Calvert Hall finished fifth in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference, compiling a 4-6 overall record and a 2-3 mark in the MIAA. The Cardinals are coming off a 42-7 victory over St. Vincent Pallotti on Nov. 3. That victory ended a string of five losses in six games.

Loyola finished just ahead of Calvert Hall in the A Conference, going 6-4 overall and 4-2 in the league.  The Dons won three of their last four regular-season games before bowing to Archbishop Spalding, 28-10, in the MIAA semifinals.

Who are the top players to watch?

For the Dons, quarterback Brad Seiss has thrown 11 touchdown passes this season, while running back Kendrick Washington has rushed for nine TDs and is averaging 91.2 yards rushing per game. Receiver Jayden Moore has five touchdown receptions to go with an average of 80 yards receiving a game. Middle linebacker Tommy Tucker averages 9.6 tackles a game for the Loyola defense and also leads the team with 6.5 sacks. 

For the Cardinals, quarterback Jae’oyn Williams has rushed for 48.6 yards a game and leads the team with six touchdowns. Receivers Jackson Gister, Jaiden Davenport and JT Taggart and running backs John Asuquo and Harrison O’Connell are all averaging more than 30 yards a game. Defensive back Darius Smith averages nearly nine tackles a game and Emilie Dore has 4.5 sacks.

Calvert Hall is coached by Josh Ward and Loyola is coached by Anthony Zehyoue.

Visit CatholicReview.org on game day for full coverage of the results. 

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

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