This photo, from the 1975 Somerset High School yearbook, was captured during a snowy Thanksgiving Day game versus Swansea in 1974. (Photo Courtesy Somerset Berkley Regional School District)
For Swansea and Somerset Berkley fans, the Thanksgiving football feast is back on the table. The 95-year-old rivalry is set to return in 2026!
Next Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, two legendary local high school varsity football squads will reignite their holiday tradition, when Joseph Case High School’s Cardinals will once again face Somerset Berkley Regional High School’s Raiders.
“We’re beyond excited to see our two great schools reunited in this incredibly important Thanksgiving Day tradition,” said Swansea Public Schools Superintendent Scott Holcomb. “For the past few years, something vital has been missing from the end of the varsity football season. We’ve taken the past few years to cultivate our high school football program, and we feel it’s ready to return to this time-honored holiday competition.”
The two teams last played in 2022. Since then, the Cardinals have reached Division 6, and the Raiders have landed in Division 4. (Division placement is determined by school enrollment.)
“We as a school community feel it is a great time to play Somerset Berkley,” said Swansea Athletic Director and former Case High School Coach Anthony Palladino. “We are hopeful we can provide an experience that will become a lasting memory for all involved.”
Swansea Public Schools are searching for a new varsity football coach. Coach Alex Monteiro stepped down at the conclusion of the 2025 season to focus on his growing family.
“Somerset Berkley is thrilled to see this long-standing Thanksgiving Day rivalry with Case High School return,” said Somerset Berkley Regional School District Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Schoonover. “With roots dating back to the 1930s, this is one of the oldest Thanksgiving football traditions in our region. Its revival is especially meaningful for our current and future students.”
The Thanksgiving Day game between Swansea’s Case High School and Somerset High School (renamed “Somerset Berkley” in 2011) dates back to 1930.
“Traditions like this build school spirit, strengthen community connections, and create healthy competition between neighboring towns,” said Superintendent Schoonover. “Many of these student-athletes grew up playing youth sports together, and this game brings that shared history full circle in a way that is exciting and important to both communities. I am grateful to Superintendent Holcomb for his openness and collaborative spirit in helping bring this tradition back, which has been our ultimate goal at Somerset Berkley over the past three years.”
Rumors of the reinvigorated rivalry permeated huddles at the end of the season for both teams. The top administrators at both Swansea and Somerset Berkley felt it was time to confirm the chatter is true, and the Cardinals and Raiders will face off on Turkey Day once again.
“Win or lose, this is the right decision for both schools,” said Superintendent Holcomb. “We badly missed playing this game versus our closest neighbors on this incredibly important day of giving thanks. I’m thankful to Superintendent Schoonover for helping to make this goal a reality in 2026. Our schools, and our communities, will surely grow even closer together as this uniting tradition returns and continues long into the future.”
###
The winner of the Thanksgiving Day game between Somerset Berkley and Swansea wins possession of the 49ers Trophy for an entire year, until the next contest. (Photo Courtesy Somerset Berkley Regional School District)
Discover more from John Guilfoil Public Relations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.