Ridgewood Beats Paramus in Final Thanksgiving Rivalry Game

Ridgewood and Paramus football teams have played on Thanksgiving for decades, but this year marked the end of the tradition. 

Normally, Thanksgiving is the final game of the season for both teams. But this year the two neighboring towns will both be playing in state championship games at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 7. Ridgewood plays Montclair at 7 p.m. and Paramus plays Pascack Valley at 4 p.m.

“This Thanksgiving game has been the Super Bowl, for lack of a better term, for Paramus over the last few years,” said Paramus Mayor Rich LaBarbiera. “This one is special because this is the last Thanksgiving game these two teams will play because the league has decided to go in a different direction.”

Teams across the state have gradually given up their Thanksgiving traditions, over concerns that the games where little is at stake could jeopardize the health of players already facing a rigorous playoff schedule.

Ridgewood, a larger school that has been dominant in the holiday games, defeated Paramus Thursday by a final score of 35-7.

“We’ve had a long legacy with these guys,” said Ridgewood senior Jack Foresman. “I think we had beat them 27 straight times up to my freshman year but then we lost. It’s cool that we end this rivalry here on our field.”

Unfortunately, the senior fullback and linebacker reinjured his collarbone in the game and could miss the Maroons' championship game at MetLife. 

Tell us your best memory of the Paramus and Ridgewood rivalry game in the comments section below.