Bring Back the Thanksgiving Ridge vs. Bernards Turkey Bowl

The Ridge–Bernards Thanksgiving Day Turkey Bowl Rivalry. We could hold our tongue no more. It needs to come back, so we had to tell the history and why we’d love to get it back.

From 1963 through 1977, Thanksgiving morning in Somerset County meant one thing: Ridge versus Bernards. Before the turkey, before the parades, fans from Basking Ridge and Bernardsville bundled up and headed to the field for one of the fiercest small-school rivalries in New Jersey. The two schools met each Thanksgiving, alternating between Lee Field in Basking Ridge and Olcott Field in Bernardsville. The Rotary Club of Bernardsville even hosted a pre-game dinner at Pistilli’s Restaurant, where both teams’ captains and coaches came together in good spirits before squaring off.

• Rivalry (1963 – 1977) 15 consecutive years
• Ridge Wins: 8
• Bernards Wins: 7
• Largest Margin of Victory: Ridge (52 points, 1977)
• Closest Game: Ridge 7–6 (1968)
• Final Streak: Ridge won the last six straight (1972–1977)

Small-Town Thanksgiving Tradition

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“This pre-game get-together has been a tradition now since the teams first met in 1963.”
— Phil Nardone, The Bernardsville News (1968)

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Building a Rivalry

The first game in 1963 set the tone. Bernards dominated, 25-7, establishing early control.
By the mid-1960s, the Mountaineers were the team to beat, taking four of the first five contests. The rivalry peaked in 1970, when Bernards completed a 9-0 undefeated season, captured the Central Jersey Group 1 title, and capped it all with a 20-6 Thanksgiving victory over Ridge before a packed home crowd. But that would be the Mountaineers’ last Thanksgiving triumph.

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The Ridge Era (1971–1977)

From 1971 on, Ridge High School turned the tide.
Under Coach Harry Bush, the Red Devils evolved into a Mountain Valley Conference powerhouse. For the rest of the decade, Ridge controlled Thanksgiving morning — winning six straight games and outscoring Bernards by wide margins.

“Ridge takes nothing for granted when it plays a Bernards squad. We know they’ll be tough, they always are.”
— Coach Harry Bush, pre-game interview, 1977

A Bernardsville News story previewing the 1977 matchup, the 15th annual game, listed Ridge as the overwhelming favorite with a 7-0-1 record.
Bernards, then 3-5, was rebuilding under Coach Bob Henderson. Ridge extended its streak again, marking eight consecutive Thanksgiving victories. Just one more reason to bring back the rivalry.

Total Games (1963–1977): 15

Why The Tradition Ended

By the late 1970s, the evolution of the NJSIAA playoff system and changes to the school calendar made scheduling Thanksgiving games more challenging.
Ridge’s annual finale eventually shifted to Watchung Hills, and Bernards joined different conference alignments.

The 1977 game marked the final Thanksgiving Day matchup between the two rivals, bringing to a close a 15-year tradition that united two proud communities.

“No matter what their records are, they both want to win this one badly.”

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A Legacy That Needs A Comeback

Today, alumni from both Ridge and Bernards remember those mornings vividly, the crisp air, the marching bands, the smell of cider, and the roar of the crowd.

The Ridge–Bernards Thanksgiving rivalry wasn’t just a football game. It was a community gathering, a small-town holiday ritual, and a symbol of local pride that lives on in the memories of every player and fan who experienced it. And with a series this tight, why would you not do it?

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Fun Facts

• First Game: 1963 at Bernards (Bernards 25 – 7)
• Fields: Olcott Field (Bernardsville) & War Memorial, and later Lee Field (Basking Ridge)
• Longest Streak: Ridge, 7+ wins (1971–1977)
• Final Year: 1977 (15th Annual Game)

Comments…

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Bernards vs. Ridge Thanksgiving Football Series Record (1963–1977)

Thanksgiving Date	Winner	Score	Margin	Comments

Nov 28, 1963

🟥 Bernards

25–7

+18

First-ever Thanksgiving matchup between Bernards and Ridge; Bernards wins convincingly at Olcott Field.

Nov 26, 1964

🟩 Ridge

14–7

+7

Ridge earns its first Thanksgiving Day victory on home turf at Lee Field.

Nov 25, 1965

🟥 Bernards

19–6

+13

Bernards rebounds with a solid defensive effort at Olcott Field.

Nov 24, 1966

🟥 Bernards

13–6

+7

Another close battle; Bernards takes a third straight win.

Nov 23, 1967

🟥 Bernards

13–6

+7

Fifth straight year decided by a touchdown or less; Bernards continues streak.

Nov 28, 1968

🟩 Ridge

7–6

+1

Closest game of the series — Ridge wins by a single point in a thriller.

Nov 27, 1969

🟥 Bernards

34–6

+28

Bernards dominates offensively in one of the series’ biggest margins.

Nov 26, 1970

🟥 Bernards

20–6

+14

Bernards finishes the 1970 season strong; strong two-way performance.

Nov 25, 1971

🟩 Ridge

20–6

+14

Ridge begins what will become a long winning streak.

Nov 23, 1972

🟩 Ridge

20–6

+14

Ridge wins back-to-back for the first time since 1964.

Nov 22, 1973

🟩 Ridge

26–14

+12

Ridge continues dominance; rivalry intensifies with physical play.

Nov 28, 1974

🟩 Ridge

28–0

+28

Ridge defense shuts out Bernards — first shutout in series history.

Nov 27, 1975

🟩 Ridge

28–10

+18

Ridge extends its winning streak with balanced offense and defense.

Nov 25, 1976

🟩 Ridge

28–10

+18

Ridge keeps control of the rivalry with another decisive victory.

Nov 24, 1977

🟩 Ridge

52–0

+52

Ridge delivers record-setting shutout in final Thanksgiving matchup.