A singularly American holiday that has its roots with the Pilgrims at Plymouth colony, Thanksgiving is a day when people gather with loved ones, enjoy the fruits of the fall harvest and count their blessings.

It is also a day steeped in tradition. For some, that means using grandma's cornbread stuffing recipe year after year. For others, it means gorging themselves on turkey before settling into the nearest easy chair for a nap.

And for many Americans, Thanksgiving is a day to watch a singularly American sport - football.

Since the National Football League was founded in 1920, there has been professional football played on Thanksgiving. But even before the professionals, high school teams were taking the field on the fourth Thursday in November.

Across the Nutmeg State, there are nearly 50 high school football matchups that are traditionally played on Turkey Day, according to the NFL's high school football records website.

Since 1920, the Stonington Bears and the Westerly Bulldogs have kicked off every Thanksgiving Day, the longest streak of consecutive Turkey Day bowls. Because the two teams once played each other a couple times each season, no two high school football teams have played as many games against each other as the 154 between the rivals separated by only three miles and the Pawcatuck River.

But only New London High School and Norwich Free Academy can lay claim to being the oldest high school football rivalry in the United States.

Since 1875 - during the administration of Ulysses S. Grant - squads from both New London and Norwich have faced off on the gridiron. Separated by fewer than 20 miles, the rivalry between the schools is fueled by proximity, familiarity and local pride.

Though the game is now thought of as an annual Thanksgiving Day game, it has not always been played on the holiday and the very first competition took place during what is now considered the depths of the football offseason.

On May 12, 1875 - five days before the running of the first Kentucky Derby - the Norwich Free Academy Wildcats took on the New London Bulkeley Tigers and the oldest football rivalry in the United States was born.

In 1951, when Bulkeley School and Chapman Technical High School merged to form New London High School, the Whalers were born and the rivalry raged on.

The Nov. 16, 1968, game "was the defining moment in this rivalry," according Brian Girasoli, a former Norwich Bulletin reporter wrote in his book chronicling the Route 32 rivalry. "The game is still mentioned today as one of the best games between the two cities in any sport."

Going into the game, the Whalers were ranked number one in the state and stood alone atop the conference standings, though NFA was tied with New Britain for second place.

"Southeastern Connecticut has its very own 1968 Super Bowl game," The Day's sports writer Bob Strecker wrote in the days leading up to the big game. "No master's degree is required to calculate the consequences of an NFA victory over the Whalers."

After rallying to overcome a 22-point deficit, NFA twice held the lead in the fourth quarter. But in the final minute of play, New London quarterback John Brennan launched a 33-yard pass to tight end Kevin Booth to give the visiting Whalers the 37-33 victory.

When the two teams face off this Thanksgiving morning in New London, it will be the 153rd time the two teams have met. NFA leads the series 78-63-11.

c.young@theday.com

Twitter: @ColinAYoung