A group of River Vale and Hillsdale senior boys have a competitive football game this Saturday at 4:00 pm that they’ve decided to call The Turkey Bowl. This game is a product of intense banter and an ongoing rivalry between friends of the two towns that make up Pascack Valley High School. 

Senior Braden Macfie of Hillsdale has always joked about setting up a competitive football game with his friend. Paul Santo, also a senior and resident of Hillsdale, decided to pitch the idea of a River Vale versus Hillsdale game amongst the senior boys to some friends. The two joked about the idea, for they did not think it would amount to anything due to everyone’s busy schedules. Their idea escalated into an undeniable rivalry between the River Vale and Hillsdale students. 

“…Once people started calling each other out, it was a given that we would play no matter what. People wanted to prove who was better,” Santo said.

The Hillsdale Team is fueled by its need to demonstrate that its players are not as bad as the River Vale Team says they are. As the underdogs, Hillsdale is coming out onto the field with a lot to prove. The Hillsdale players have used this motivation to improve as a team through their practices, which have been held three times a week for the past month. Further contributing to Hillsdale’s underdog reputation is the difference in the size between River Vale and Hillsdale. With River Vale pulling from a larger population, it seems Hillsdale has struggled for legitimate numbers. 

Santo said, “River Vale is obviously bigger than us but that doesn’t win football games. It’s a strategy as well. We know what we’re facing. We’re prepared. We’re ready.” 

To combat the smack talk and misconceptions, the Hillsdale boys plan to utilize communication and chemistry to execute their strategies successfully. Macfie stated, “No matter how good a team is, it’s nothing without chemistry.” 

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Hillsdale

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Since freshman year, groups from River Vale and Hillsdale have been playing each other in exhibition football games at local fields. Ryan Mancinelli, a River Vale resident who is one of the main organizers of this game, was approached by Anthony Sileo of Hillsdale. Sileo wanted to know if Mancinelli’s team wanted to play against Sileo’s team in a big exhibition game.

“Anthony Sileo and his group of friends wanted in. This year [it will be] River Vale kids against Sileo’s group,” Mancinelli said. “We are gonna have some fun.”

The game will be a 7-on-7 game, with subs for both teams. There will be “unbiased refs,” simply put by Senior Michael Criscuolo (RV). The referees will be Nolan Wasserman, who is a Hillsdale local, and Max Merker, who reigns from River Vale. 

The boys have different perspectives on the game. Mancinelli aims for River Vale to be up 21-0 at halftime, hoping the group’s experience of playing football together since freshman year will be enough to overpower the Hillsdale boys. 

Criscuolo has a different take on the game, giving credit to the Hillsdale boys for their dedication towards the game and their hard-working mentality. 

“It should be a good game, but we’ll [River Vale team] come out on top,” Criscuolo stated. 

With reputations and egos on the line, this Turkey Bowl will undoubtedly be a game of great intensity, stemming from the players’ competitive natures. Come to the Mark Lane Field at 4:00pm this Saturday to watch and see who will walk away victorious.