WELLESLEY — Bobby Shanahan and Brandon Hollingsworth spent the last two Thanksgivings watching the Needham Rockets hoist the Frederick Gorman Centennial Trophy.

For their final game in Wellesley Raiders football uniforms, the senior co-captains wanted the trophy back.

Shanahan threw for two touchdowns and rushed for a third, and Hollingsworth led a strong defensive effort as Wellesley topped Needham 20-6 in the 138th annual Thanksgiving football showdown Thursday at Connor Darcey Memorial Field. Wellesley won for the first time since 2022 and leads the overall series 67-62-9 in the oldest public school rivalry in the country.

“It’s a big win for us,” said Wellesley head coach Jesse Davis. “A great crowd, a beautiful day. Turkey always tastes sweeter when you get a win on Thanksgiving.”

See Full Page