Here are five things to know ahead of the traditional Thanksgiving Day football clash between Baltimore-area Catholic schools Calvert Hall Cardinals and Loyola Blakefield Dons:
When will the Turkey Bowl be played and how can I watch?
The game is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m., at Towson University’s Johnny Unitas Stadium. It can be watched in person by purchasing tickets ($12 for general admission) at the gates, which open at 8:30 a.m. or by visiting either schools’ website calverthall.com or loyolablakefield.org or ticketmaster.com/towsonstudent/TurkeyBowl. For ticket questions, call 410-841-3298. The game, sponsored by The Brooks Financial Group, can be viewed live on WMAR-TV (channel 2) or on the station’s streaming channels. Coverage starts Thanksgiving morning at 9 a.m. with a pregame show (sponsored by Catholic Review Media).
What do I need to know if I’m attending the Turkey Bowl in person?
Administrators suggest arriving early since a large crowd is expected for the 11,198-seat venue (there was a capacity crowd in 2023). Parking lots 4, 5 and 8 are for general parking. Additional parking is available at the Union Garage off of 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 (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. A clear-bag policy is in effect for this game. Each guest, including children, will be able to carry one approved clear bag and one clutch. Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags may not exceed 12 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches. Small clutch bags may not exceed 4.5 inches x 6.5 inches with or without a handle or strap. A one-gallon clear plastic Ziploc-style bag is permissible. All bags are subject to inspection. Concessions are cashless.
Calvert Hall is the home team this year, and its fans will sit on the south (press box) side.
At the request of both schools, all tailgating is prohibited.
What’s the history of this matchup?
This will be the 105th 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 oldest continual football rivalry between Catholic high schools in the United States.
In the 104th edition of the game in 2024, senior quarterback Brad Seiss helped lead Loyola Blakefield’s to a 17-14 victory against archrival Calvert Hall. Seiss threw for two touchdowns in the first half and senior kicker Owen Sheihihing’s 42-yard field goal with 8:29 remaining proved to be the difference. The game was played in front of 7,128 fans at Johnny Unitas Stadium.
Loyola, which has won three of the past four games, leads the all-time series 52-44-8.
Both schools predate the Civil War. The Christian Brothers founded Calvert Hall in 1845; the Jesuits opened what is now Loyola Blakefield in 1852.
The game has been played at host sites including The Johns Hopkins University, Loyola College (now Loyola University Maryland), Municipal Stadium, Memorial Stadium and M&T Bank Stadium.
How have the teams fared coming into this final game of the season?
Both teams are under new leadership this season with veteran coach Richard Holzer guiding Loyola Blakefield and first-year head coach Tyler Ward directing Calvert Hall. Holzer returned to the MIAA after four years at Northern High School where he led the Calvert County school to a 3A state championship in 2021. Ward was a former college assistant at Lehigh University and Franklin & Marshall College.
Calvert Hall, ranked No. 18 in the Maryland High School Football Top 25, has compiled a 5-4 record, winning three of its last five games. Included in the final five-game regular-season stretch were a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to No. 11 St. Mary’s, 14-13, and an upset of 10th-ranked McDonogh, 28-21.
Loyola has compiled a 5-5 regular-season record, snapping a three-game losing streak in its last outing with a 42-0 victory over SEED School. The Dons opened the season with four wins in their first six games.
Who are the top players to watch?
For Calvert Hall, senior wide receiver/running back Harris O’Connell leads the team with eight touchdowns and averages 65.7 yards a game rushing. Senior wide receiver/defensive back Christ Hewitt Jr. has scored five TDS and leads the Cardinals with three interceptions. Senior running back Azuriah A Holmes has also scored five touchdowns and averages 63.1 yards a game rushing. Sophomore wide receiver Michael Johnson averages 60 yards a game receiving and junior receiver Micha Morozov follows with 48.7 yards per game receiving and four receiving touchdowns. Junior quarterback Oliver Noll is completing 53 percent of his passes and has thrown for eight TDs. Junior defensive back Tyree Stanley leads the team with 5.0 tackles per game, while senior linebacker Luke Speicher averages 4.7 tackles. Junior defensive lineman Xavier Melvin and freshman defensive lineman Manny Beck both have more than four sacks this season.
For Loyola, senior wide receiver/defensive back Brayden Pross leads the way with nine receiving touchdowns and an average of 107.9 yards per game receiving. Sophomore quarterback Carlos Spencer is completing 54 percent of his passes and has thrown for 24 TDs. Senior running back/defensive back Mason Russell is averaging 60.3 yards per game rushing and has scored six TDs. Junior wide receiver/defensive back Carston Brown has scored seven touchdowns. Senior defensive back Brady Murn paces the team with 10.2 tackles per game and a team-best four interceptions. Senior linebacker Cole Mosier averages 9.0 tackles and senior linebacker Sam Lavin has piled up 6.4 tackles a game and five sacks. Freshman defensive lineman Matthew Miranda has two sacks and senior defensive back Jack Wrinn and senior cornerback Khary Adams each have two interceptions.
Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org
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