North Catholic, Frankford played some Turkey Day classics

Well, it's almost here.

Sadly, barring an unforeseen financial intervention for Northeast Catholic between now and June, North and Frankford will meet Thursday for the last time.

This neighborhood clash, centered at Large and Dyre Streets for the last two decades and Temple Stadium before that, will make a curtain call before what will surely be a packed-to-the-gills crowd at La Salle University.

The rivalry has produced many thrillers since it began in 1928. North leads the Thanksgiving series, 41-34-4, and holds a 42-35-4 overall advantage. Each contest, because of the proximity of the schools, has been charged with emotion and marked with intense and physical play.

Thursday will be no different. The Falcons are out to avenge two straight losses to the Pioneers. Frankford is looking to notch a victory that would greatly ease the hurt associated with an uncharacteristic losing record.

Al Angelo, the Frankford coach who died in April 2008 of pancreatic cancer, has a front-row seat reserved in the ultimate skybox. The man who guided the Pioneers to 10 Public League championships and 184 wins in 21 seasons was respected for his character off the field just as much as for what he achieved on the gridiron.

And the greats who have played in the game over the years? The most recognizable names for each school are North's Frank "Bucko" Kilroy, a 1939 graduate who became a defensive terror for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Frankford's Blair Thomas, a 1985 product who went on to be a star rusher at Penn State and likewise reached the NFL ranks.

For most players, usually the blue-collar types who punched the clock and stashed away their lunch pails before taking the field, the battle for neighborhood bragging rights signaled the end to their football careers. That made them cherish every down, series, and quarter.

As we prepare to say goodbye to this all-timer of a Turkey Day series, here is one man's top-10 list of the most memorable North-Frankford matchups over the last 30 seasons.

And, as the No. 1 choice indicates, maybe, just maybe, all is not lost when it comes to North keeping open the doors at Torresdale and Erie Avenues. Of course, we wish the same for fellow Catholic League member Cardinal Dougherty.

1. In 1992, with a proposed closing of North by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia hanging in the air at Frankford Stadium, the Falcons rose up in the mud and, holding the Pioneers to 10 points on four drives that ended inside the North 10-yard line, triumphed, 14-12, before a gathering of 4,200.

Jack Patton, the Falcons' first-year coach and a 1965 North graduate, was prophetic in his postgame remarks. "This is a beginning for us, this is not the end," he said.

Three weeks later, word came that North was one of several Catholic League high schools spared the archdiocese's fiscal ax.

2. In 1987, Angelo's last year as head coach, the Pioneers netted 368 yards rushing on 50 attempts and handed their leader a 34-17 win as a going-away present before about 8,000 at Temple Stadium. The Falcons wasted a 258-yard passing effort by Dave Markowski.

3. In 1996, quarterback Jim Miller bulled his way into the end zone from the 1 with 29 seconds to go as North stunned standout rusher Eddie Gaskins (25 carries for 129 yards, two touchdowns) and the previously undefeated Pioneers, 20-19.

4. In 1989, in a contest pushed back two days because of snow, Nicky DeNofa threw a pair of TD passes to Brian Fricker and the winning two-point conversion toss as Frankford prevailed, 14-12. "I'm a running back with a quarterback's number," DeNofa said afterward.

5. In 1986, the Falcons stopped a two-point conversion attempt with 1 minute, 40 seconds remaining and eked out a 14-13 win at Temple Stadium. On the deciding play, Kevin McCoy, on a power sweep to the right, was knocked out of bounds at the 1 by four North defenders.

6. In 2003, a high-scoring tilt was highlighted by Frankford's Brandon Norris, whose three scores on just four carries sparked the Pioneers to a 49-28 victory in the game's 76th anniversary. Michael Washington chipped in two rushing TD for the winners.

7. In 1988, Chuck Morganti, a tough-as-nails running back, returned from an Achilles tendon sprain and produced 78 yards and two TDs on 26 carries as North frolicked, 28-0. Frankford was held to 77 yards rushing and 28 passing.

8. 1983, Thomas, then a junior, carried 27 times for 173 yards and four TDs, including a 72-yarder on the first play, in the Pioneers' 27-9 victory.

9. In 1990, North's special-teams unit keyed an 18-14 win. It blocked three of Jim McCreesh's punts. Jim Meintel was an offensive spark plug for the Falcons, rushing 28 times for 148 yards and a TD.

10. In 1997, avenging the previous year's heartbreaking loss, Gaskins netted 205 yards and three TDs on 18 carries as the fuming Pioneers pinned a 54-14 defeat on the Falcons. It was the series' most lopsided outcome.