NFA’s Talon Amado, Jr., breaks away from New LondonTre’Viont Mitchell (24) to score the Wildcats lone 1st half touchdown in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New Londonz’s Josiah Williams goes airborne between NFA’s Dangelo Aristilde (5) and Talon Amado, Jr., (34) in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Lio Griffin-Hill is upended by NFA’s Talon Amado, Jr., (35) in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

Gage Hinkley (6) tries to make the catch defended by New London’s Tre’viont Mitchell (24) and Lio Griffin-Hill in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Jonathon Mercado sacks NFA quarterback Jayden Desilus in the end zone for a safety in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Josiah Williams takes down NFA’s Talon Amado, Jr. in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Kyle Parkes (17) deflects the pass attempt by NFA quarterback Colby Ayuyu (7) in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

NFA’s Jama Vieira (10) breaks up a pass intended for New London’s Herbert Bonneau (3) in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

NFA players celebrate their win over New London in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

NFA’s Brandon Vanlew (24) leads the charge onto the field to celebrate the win over New London in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

NFA head coach Jason Bakoulis puhes his players back to their sideline as their celebration moved close to the New London sideline following the Wildcats win over the Whalers in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London head coach Johnny Burns moves to console senior quarterback Rhodia Perry after the Whalers loss to NFA in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

University of Connecticut head football coach Jim Mora, center, greets members of the New London high school coaching staff as he arrives to watch the Whalers face Norwich Free Academy in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Canna mela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

University of Connecticut head football coach Jim Mora, right, greets members of the New London high school coaching staff as he arrives to watch the Whalers face Norwich Free Academy in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Canna mela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Herbert Bonneau (3) can’t reach a pass from quarterback Rhodia Perry, not pictured, as NFA’s Jamal Vieira (10) defends in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Herbert Bonneau (3) reels in a pass from quarterback Rhodia Perry, not pictured, as NFA’s Jamal Vieira (10) defends in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London quarterback Rhodia Perry scrambles to recover a fumbled exchange as Akeem Morris (52) blocks NFA’s Sayvion Jones (14) in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

NFA’s Dangelo Aristilde (5) breaks up a pass intended for New London’s Roderick Pratts (1) in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London quarterback Rhodia Perry fights through NFA tacklers Dangelo Aristilde (5) and Treyvon Christian (65) in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

NFA’s Dangelo Aristilde (5) trips up New London’s Jonathaon Mercado (6) in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Kyle Parkes (17) tackles NFA’s Colby Ayuyu (7) as Jonathon Mercado (6) trails the play in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Mustafa Dannett (7) tackles NFA’s Gage Hinkley (6) in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

NFA players celebrate a safety against New London in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

NFA’s Dangelo Aristilde pushes New London’s Josiah Williams out of bounds in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

NFA head coach Jason Bakoulis huddles his team during a timeout against New London in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Kyle Parkes (17) tackles NFA’s Colby Ayuyu (7) in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Roderick Pratts breaks up a pass intended for NFA’s Gage Hinckley (6) in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Herbert Bonneau (3) can’t reach a pass from quarterback Rhodia Perry, not pictured, after outracing NFA’s Jamal Vieira (10) in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

NFA’s Talon Amado, Jr. breaks through the New London defense in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Herbert Bonneau (3) tackles NFA’s Talon Amado, Jr. in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Roderick Pratts keeps his feet in bounds on a reception against NFA in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)

New London’s Lio Griffin-Hill (5) and Schneider Senat (67) combine to tackle NFA’s Talon Amado, Jr. in Thanksgiving Day high school football action Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Cannamela Field in New London. The Wildcats edged the Whalers 9-8 in the 159th playing of the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)