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A look at Thanksgiving games

Pennridge and Quakertown will meet for the second time this season, after the Route 309 neighbors squared off in the first round of the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA football playoffs.

Quakertown running back Rob Burns on Thanksgiving in 2013. (Bradley C Bower/Staff)
Quakertown running back Rob Burns on Thanksgiving in 2013. (Bradley C Bower/Staff)Read more

Pennridge and Quakertown will meet for the second time this season, after the Route 309 neighbors squared off in the first round of the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA football playoffs.

The Rams, seeking payback for a 14-10 loss to the Panthers, will return to newly refurbished Alumni Field in the continuation of a storied Thanksgiving Day rivalry.

On Nov. 7, Alec Vera's 20-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Tyler Kishbaugh was the difference.

Pennridge, 7-4 and ranked No. 21 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, leads the all-time series by 53-27-5. No. 17 Quakertown (10-2) last won in 2008, by 34-29.

In other Thanksgiving games:

Bucks County neighbors Bristol and Morrisville, which first started playing in 1928, will clash again after a two-year break. Morrisville forfeited last year because of low numbers.

Central vs. Northeast is the granddaddy of all Turkey Day games, dating to 1892. Last year, the Lancers notched their first holiday triumph since 2004 with a 6-3 decision.

Imhotep Charter, after bowing to Archbishop Wood by 42-34 in the District 12 Class AAA final last weekend, will seek to end its season on a high note against Martin Luther King.

Neumann-Goretti, which is busy preparing for its Class AA quarterfinal Saturday vs. District 2's Dunmore, canceled its holiday game vs. Southern.

Here is a closer look at some of the holiday games.

Last week: 7-0. Overall: 96-36 (.727).

Wednesday night

Bonner-Prendergast (8-2) at No. 22 Malvern Prep (7-4), 4. Two savvy quarterbacks, Bonner-Prendie's Collin DiGalbo and Malvern's Alex Hornibrook, are featured. Pick: Malvern, 31-16.

Thursday morning

Prep Charter (9-1-1) at Frankford (5-6), 9:45. Key for the host Pioneers in the first-year matchup is keeping close tabs on Huskies QB Vian Dolo. Pick: Prep Charter, 26-14.

Archbishop Ryan (5-6) at George Washington (7-5), 10. Can Washington slow prolific rusher Samir Bullock and gain its first series victory since 2010? Ryan has a 27-9-1 advantage. Pick: Ryan, 28-12.

Central (1-10) at Northeast (5-6), 10. The Wooden Horse Trophy is again up for grabs. The host Vikings have a 56-52-10 overall lead in the series. Pick: Northeast, 26-6.

Father Judge (4-7) at Lincoln (4-6), 10. Lincoln boss Ed McGettigan, a former Judge standout, tries for the program's first win over the Crusaders since 1989. Judge leads, 35-3-1. Pick: Judge, 46-13.

Cheltenham (6-5) at Abington (5-5), 10. Cheltenham eked out a 35-34 win last year. But overall, the host Ghosts are ahead by 56-30-6. Pick: Abington, 34-21.

No. 21 Pennridge (7-4) at No. 17 Quakertown (10-2), 10:15. Look for hard-nosed rusher Joe Unangst to be the X-factor for the revenge-minded, visiting Rams. Pick: Pennridge, 28-20.

No. 3 Imhotep Charter (10-2) vs. Martin Luther King (5-6), at Northwest Philly Super Site, 10:30. Last year, with Imhotep looking ahead to a Class AA state quarterfinal, King surprised with a 32-30 win. Pick: Imhotep, 49-12.

Haverford High (7-4) at Upper Darby (5-5), 10:45. In a series that is tied at 43-43-6, the host Royals will try for their first victory since 2009. Pick: Haverford, 26-21.