Thanksgiving football sees familiar end for Melrose 

Wakefield tops Melrose, 20-14, for 4^th straight win 

CONTAINING WAKEFIELD sophomore halfback Jaden Fullerton was a top priority for Melrose, who fell to the Warriors for the 4th straight Thanksgiving. (Dan Pawlowski photo)

By JENNIFER GENTILE 

MELROSE —Not even the pouring rain could keep away the Melrose faithful on Thursday, Nov. 28 when the Melrose and Wakefield varsity football teams faced off at the 64^thannual Thanksgiving Classic, the 114th meeting of the two teams, held this year at Fred Green Field. Die-hard fans braved the rain and wind to watch a competitive game that boiled down to a final, last hope Melrose drive with 2 minutes to go, that resulted in a Melrose turnover on downs to allow the Warriors to escape with a 20-14 win. 

The Warriors have now beaten Melrose four straight years, their best run since 2008-2011.

Melrose had advanced on a solid final drive and was down just 6 points, an advantageous position, but Wakefield defense clamped down on Melrose’s running attempt on 4^th and 2 on the 23 to turn the ball over on downs. 

It was another one-score game, similar to previous seasons in the last half-decade, so the result did have a fairly familiar feeling for Melrose, who held deficits on Thursday of 7-10, 14-0 and 20-14 over the day, but was also tied at 14 in the third. 

Ultimately, Melrose had to contend with a beast in Warrior Jaden Fullerton, a sophomore halfback, who carried the ball 38 times for 204 yards and 2 TD’s. He essentially did it all for Wakefield, who didn’t rely on any passing offense and very little running from anyone else.  

“Wakefield had some pretty talented players,” said Melrose head coach Tim Morris after the game. “Obviously Fullerton but also a really strong blocking tight end [Jackson Fitzpatrick]. At one point the narrative might have been that Wakefield wasn’t good this year but they were as good as any team we’ve played this season, certainly in the league.”

Wakefield defense started strong, forcing 2 three-and-outs for Melrose and a turnover on downs that set the tone for the day, though Melrose roared back several times, thanks largely to the work of Marco Albanese and Nick Hitchman, who did most of the leg work for Melrose, along with Rich Harrison who had a strong day as well and helped Melrose tie things up at 14 with a touchdown reception. 

For their last games of the season, Albanese and Hitchman certainly went out in style. “Marco and Nick never leave the field,” said coach Morris. “They are great on both sides of the ball, they do it all, and Nick is even our long snapper. Both guys had great seasons. They are competitive and tough despite getting banged up.”

MAYBE NEXT year for Melrose High football, who fell to Wakefield in the 64th Annual Thanksgiving Classic, 20-14 on Thursday, Nov. 28 at a rain soaked Fred Green Field in Melrose. (Dan Pawlowski photo)

Wakefield received the ball on the Melrose 49 for their first drive, and Fullerton went to work, including a 5-yard gain on 4^th-and-4, finishing with an 8-yard TD run. At times, Fullerton seemed unstoppable to take down, though Melrose’s best efforts came courtesy of senior Keegan Moloney, Rich Teixeira, Jack McAree, Marco Albanese and junior Jack Casey.

But Wakefield pressed on. After forcing a Melrose punt, the Warriors started on their own 40 and launched an eleven-play, 60-yard, clock-draining drive that would see them set up on the 1-yard line. However, what appeared as an initial fumble on the one-yard line recovered by Melrose’s Hitchman, was called a Wakefield touchdown via Christian Diflorio. 

The hometown fans and Melrose players didn’t like the call but it gave Wakefield a larger 14-0 lead as halftime approached. Melrose’s Hitchman had a great 30-yard kick off return but saw a penalty bring the ball back, and Melrose failed to convert a first down. That forced a punt, a deep one by Melrose’s Charlie Finocchiaro, and Wakefield would launch its own drive.

But Fullerton fumbled on Wakefield’s next possession, recovered by Melrose’s Graham Kreamer, which gave Melrose the ball back on the Warrior 42 with 1:41 left in the half. Melrose came alive on this drive. Melrose junior QB Jack Feeney connected with Nick Hitchman on 4^th and 7 and after, found Marco Albanese on a big 27 yard pass before Feeney topped it off with a 1-yard touchdown run with 10 seconds left on the clock to make it 14-7 at halftime after a good kick by Pat Buggy.   

In the third, Melrose defense opened strong with key tackles from Jack Casey and Jack McAree that thwarted Wakefield’s Fullerton, prompting a Warrior punt. Albanese had a long punt return and Melrose’s Feeney found his target in Albanese who ran for 25 yards on a Feeney pass before being taken down by in Warrior territory by Wakefield’s John Fitzpatrick.

Feeney then found junior Rich Harrison for a 15-yard TD that tied it up at 14 with 8:50 left in the 3^rd. A good kick by Pat Buggy would prove critical in that drive, as it ultimately positioned Melrose to be within 6 points on an offensive comeback drive later in the game.

Soon, Wakefield would receive the ball on the Melrose 34, and watched Fullerton work his magic, avoid numerous tackles to help drive Wakefield down field. As the fourth quarter opened, Fullerton wasn’t done. Poised on a 4^th and goal on the 2, it seemed certain he’d cross into the end zone and, sure enough, he did with a 2-yard TD to make it 20-14, but with plenty of football to go. A missed point after and having 11:15 on the clock gave Melrose optimism of a comeback and the two teams swapped possessions and punts until Melrose got the ball on their own 42 with 5:21 to go. Melrose’s Nick Hitchman came up critical in the drive, breaking up a pass and delivering a crushing tackle on Fullerton. 

Melrose’s final offensive drive saw Hitchman receive a 6 yard pass from Feeney before Rich Harrison had a key 4^th down conversation on 4^th and 2 for a 14 yard gain that had the crowd on their feet. Harrison continued his march with a 9-yard gain on 2^nd and 1 that set Melrose up on the Wakefield 22 with just under 3 minutes left.

After Melrose failed a run attempt for a one-yard loss, Feeney took to the air on 3^rd and 2 but came up empty, putting Melrose at a critical 4^th and 2 scenario. Harrison would try again up the middle but that run was thwarted by Warrior defensemen Damien Hunt, Luciano Rossetti and Matt Beaver. The officials brought out the chains but Melrose was short by less than a yard and Wakefield took over on downs and celebrated on field.

The Warriors finish at 7-4 overall this season, ending the year on a six-game winning streak and with a share of the Middlesex League Freedom Division title along with Stoneham and Burlington.  

Melrose, after a playoff run, finishes their season at 4-6 and graduates 17 seniors, including captain Nick Hitchman, Marco Albanese, along with captains Sam Madden, Jack McAree and Keegan Maloney. 

“This group was fun to coach,” says Morris. “We had our chances. Besides Reading and Scituate, we were never out of any game. We got banged up this season, were down some players that might have made a difference, but that’s also a reflection of the tough schedule we played.”

And while those seniors will be tough to replace in 2025, Melrose has the good fortune of returning quarterback Jack Feeney, kicker Pat Buggy, and starting playmakers such as Max Lanciani, Rich Harrison, Tyler Garipay, Jack Casey and Rick Teixeira. A growing line and an established quarterback and running game could bode well for Melrose as they look to reestablish themselves as Div. 4 leaders in 2025.

Worth noting: Melrose’s junior varsity team finished their season undefeated, meaning the future may be quite bright for coach Tim Morris and the Melrose football staff. 

“We have a good nucleus of skilled players coming back,” notes Morris. “We’d like to pick up a few guys up front to play and bulk up, and be in a situation where we aren’t under-manned.”