The Plymouth North Blue Eagles scored first, but the host Barnstable Red Raiders returned that volley with 46 unanswered points in a 52-12 rout last night.
The top-ranked Barnstable High squad got two touchdowns each from Tedaro France, James Burke and Justus Chaffee, while France (4 carries/108 yds.) and junior running back Hayden Murphy (11 carries, 124 yards) ran wild at a sparsely-attended W. Leo Shields Memorial Field.
Virtually every Red Raider on the roster saw playing time last night as senior quarterback Nick Peabody (6-10, 102 yds., 3 TDs passing) led the Red & White in the first half to a 33-6 advantage, then gave the reins over to junior Kristian Lucashensky who went 4-8 in the air for 85 yards and a pair of touchdown passes.
Chaffee ran the ball 7 times in the second half for 45 yards and two scores, while Dylan Morris, it should be emphasized, was the first Red Raider to score on the night - a 51-yard touchdown reception from Peabody on Barnstable's first offensive play of the game at the 5:08 mark in the first quarter.
Barnstable now has 13 days of preparation time prior to its 119th meeting versus Falmouth, all set for 10:00 am on Thursday, Nov. 22 at Barnstable High in Hyannis. Barnstable will face last year's nemesis Lincoln-Sudbury in the MIAA Division 1A playoffs following the much-balleyhooed and historic Thanksgiving Day game versus the Falmouth Clippers.
It is the fifth oldest Thanksgiving Day rivalry in Massachusetts.
The annual Thanksgiving Day football parade - an annual Hyannis staple since the 1940s, off and on - will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 21, with a pep rally on the Hyannis Village Green to follow.