This Thanksgiving, the Wilson varsity football team will be playing in the DCIAA Football Championship, the Turkey Bowl. Wilson was seeded number one going into the playoffs and came out with a dramatic 37-34 win against Ballou on November 20, advancing them to the championship game and ensuring them a return to the Turkey Bowl. They will play the reigning DCIAA champion, H.D. Woodson.

Woodson won the last two Turkey Bowls and clinched their ticket to the Turkey Bowl this year with a 29-7 win against Dunbar in the semifinals on November 20. Woodson has won 14 DCIAA football championships in total, the most in the league’s history.

The Tigers haven’t won the Turkey Bowl since 1991, but have made it to the championships seven times, most recently in 2013 against Woodson.

While the Tigers lost the first game of their season this year against Good Counsel, they have since had an impressive winning streak of 11 games, ending with a record of 11-1.

Junior quarterback Steve Williams believes that this year’s success is due to a greater feeling of unity within the team. “There is no more individuals and we are more of a team,” says Williams.

The Tigers have already played Woodson this year and came out on top in a 28-18 win on October 16. Knowing that they can beat Woodson has given the star quarterback a confidence boost. “We’re gonna make them have to check our speed, which is gonna open up the run game,” says Williams.

Williams and star wide receiver Sean Savoy, both juniors, have become a lethal duo when they get in the red zone. Out of the 39 touchdowns Williams has thrown this year, 19 have been to Savoy. Given this excellent record, Woodson cornerback and University of Maryland commit Parnell Motley, will have a lot on his hands this Thursday.

The game will be played at Eastern High School at 11 am. The 40 minute drive is definitely worth seeing two of the best football teams in the District at the top of their game, so come out and support!

PHOTO BY ELLIE LEBLANC, PHOTO EDITOR