The Scituate Sailors remain undefeated with an impressive 10-0 record as they prepare to face the Grafton Gators in the semi-finals on Saturday, November 23. Following this pivotal matchup, the team will compete in the highly anticipated Thanksgiving game against the Hingham Harbormen at SHS on Thursday, November 18, at 10:00 AM. To preview the post-season and the Thanksgiving tradition, The Scituation spoke with players and team insiders about their preparation and perspectives on the season.
This year’s Thanksgiving Day game comes just two weeks before the Sailors are predicted to play at Gillette Stadium in the MIAA Division 4 Championship. With an undefeated season so far, the Sailors have dominated their opponents by a substantial margin–a level of success that hasn’t occurred in years. Although the team reached the championships in 2021 and 2023, neither season featured such a commanding record. This is Coach Herb Devine’s first undefeated season.
Debates have surfaced regarding the team’s exceptional talent and whether it should influence their MIAA division placement. Scituate High School is currently ranked in Division 4, but many students, parents, and faculty feel the Sailors are outperforming their competition, raising questions about whether they should be moved to a higher division. Much of this year’s success has been attributed to the skill and leadership of standout players like junior quarterback Jonny Donovan and sophomore running back Grayson Foley. According to senior wide receiver Quinn DeCourcey, “Our young talent is really stepping up. Their contribution, combined with our group of 16 star-studded seniors, has propelled us to success.”
When asked about the team’s preparation for the 2024 season, Donovan shared, “We’ve been preparing every day since the summer, waking up at 7:00 AM for lifts. Our preparation and work ethic in practice are like no other team in the state.”
Regarding their current MIAA ranking, Donovan added, “We’ll be staying in Division 4 for the 2025 season, but I believe we have the talent to compete in any division.”
The Thanksgiving football game is a cherished tradition at SHS, drawing students, families, and alumni together for a morning of spirited competition. Senior captain Wyllys Ames expressed the team’s confidence heading into the Thanksgiving matchup: “We are very confident in our ability to beat Hingham. All of our focus is on the game in front of us since Grafton is the priority right now, but we know we’ll be ready for Hingham when the time comes.” Ames said the team collectively loves playing their South Shore rivals: “We love playing those guys and are always ready to have a battle on Thanksgiving.”
Another point of interest is the timing of the Thanksgiving game, which is considered a regular-season match despite occurring after the semi-finals. On this topic, Ames commented, “It is always a blast to have a game late in the year that doesn’t impact the postseason. Thanksgiving is a great tradition, with family and past players in attendance. We’re excited to finish our regular season with Hingham.”
This weekend’s semi-final game against Grafton will determine the team’s postseason fate. A win would secure their spot at Gillette, while a loss would end their championship hopes. When asked how a loss might affect the Thanksgiving game, Ames replied, “I don’t want to put energy into that, but it would make Thanksgiving mean even more. Your last high school football game is always a big day. We’ve put everything into this team, and we know we have what it takes to play in December rather than November. We just need to execute and play to our potential.”
The staff of The Scituation wishes the Sailors the best of luck this weekend. Take us to Gillette again, boys!