5 Things to Know about 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 Cardinals and Loyola Blakefield Dons: 

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

The game is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 24, 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 410-841-3298. 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. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Thanksgiving morning at 9:30 a.m. before kickoff. 

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 (more than 8,000 attended in 2021). 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 102nd 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. 

After the initial attempt at the 101st Turkey Bowl was canceled because of the Coronavirus pandemic, Loyola ended a six-game losing streak to Calvert Hall in 2021. The Dons defeated the Cardinals, 41-35, in the 101st showdown before an announced crowd of 8,165. 

Loyola leads the all-time series 50-43-8.

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

Sites the game has been played at include: 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?

Loyola has compiled a 4-5 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the MIAA A Conference under head coach Anthony Zehyoue. The Dons come into the game having won three of their last four. Calvert Hall, coached by Josh Ward, has compiled a 6-6 record, including 3-2 in the conference. The team advanced to the MIAA A title game with a three-game win streak, before losing to Archbishop Spalding in the final, 34-10. It will be a quick turnaround for the Cardinals, who are playing for the second time in six days.

Who are the top players to watch?

Calvert Hall is led on offense by running backs Dawon Dorsey (52 yards rushing per game) and Daniel Harper Jr. (51.9 per game). The Cards’ top receivers are Donovan Michael Lewis (59.2 yards receiving per game, 6 receiving touchdowns), Sammy Williams (37.8 per game) and Kaden Barmer (34.2 per game). Quarterback Noah Brannock leads the teams with six rushing touchdowns and 18 passing TDs, while the defense is anchored by defensive backs Darius Smith (6.7 tackles per game, 2 caused fumbles), Ricardo Cooper (6 interceptions) and Hunter Bowen (5.9 tackles per game) as well as linebacker Duncan Kammar (3.9 tackles per game) and defensive linemen Keaton Eyring (4 sacks) and Emilie Dore (3 sacks).

Loyola is led on offense by quarterback Bradley Seiss (1,396 passing yards, 12 touchdowns passes), running back Kendrick Worthington (469 yards rushing and 25 receptions) and receivers Shane Elliott (38 receptions, 357 yards) and Zach Phillips (16 receptions, 183 yards). The Dons’ defense is anchored by linebackers Tommy Tucker (88 tackles) and Andrew Duvall (80 tackles, 3 sacks) as well as defensive end AJ Szymanski (44 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and defensive lineman Luke Randazzo (36 tackles) and defensive backs Zeke Jackson (34 tackles, 2 interceptions) and Elliott (34 tackles).

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

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

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