Thanksgiving Plate No. 1: The Soul Bowl

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dear Thanksgiving,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Is there any more of an American holiday than you? One day a year, we are joined by family and friends that are overlayed on top of a backdrop of egregious amounts of hearty food and football. All the while, you synergize each of these elements like the ingredients to Grandmama's secret gravy recipe.- creating fun moments that last a lifetime. Only you, my beloved Thanksgiving, unites four of my favorite, fundamental F-words: family, friends, food, fun, and football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Celebrating you in the state of New Jersey, you, my sweet Thanksgiving, represents something akin to an appetizer round - a precursor of sorts - to the main dish of NJSIAA State Championship games played in the immediate days after we celebrate you. However, in many cases people enjoy appetizers more than entrée.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps what makes you so special in some households are what you represent on the gridiron, my dearest Thanksgiving. Bitter rivalries are renewed. Bragging rights are either regained or maintained. Seniors have their last opportunity to leave their inalienable mark on their high school football programs; whereas similarly, underclassman have an opportunity to announce their arrival for the year to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To you, wholesome Thanksgiving, I feature a handful of games this year played on your day that I find absolutely delectable - much like the bountiful feast you offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With all my love and in all sincerity,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brendan Mankarious</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Soul Bowl: Shabazz (11-1) at Weequahic (6-3)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this year's rendition of this storied rivalry, the visiting Bulldogs are in the same place but with a new face - looking to yield different results. A year ago, Nasir Oliver was the head coach as Shabazz dropped this game 19-14, and then went on to be defeated in Group II state final to Rumson, 26-24, finishing their season with a two-game losing streak. Fast-forward a full year, Nasir Oliver is out and now at Penn State and in is Nasir Gaines - who is presumably out at the Brick City Lions. At the conclusion of this game, Gaines' Bulldogs will look to, again, prepare for the Group II state final - this year against Camden.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Weequahic it was another strong season at 6-3; however, one thing was notably missing from their season this year: their perennial trip to the playoffs. The Indians were disqualified from post-season play by the NJSIAA due to 3+ players being ejected earlier in the season in their contest against Westside. With nothing left to play for this season but this, expect Weequahic to be highly motivated to be spoilers once more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Players: Shabazz Bulldogs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1570670' first='Karriem' last='Coston'], QB, 2027: </strong>80-128, 1233 yards, 17 TD, 4 Int, 40 carries, 242 yards, 3 TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='690101' first='Nosym' last='Brown'], WR, 2028: </strong>25 receptions 444 yards, 7 TD, 22 tackles (13 solo, 1 for loss)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1557285' first='Zykir' last='Best'], LB, 2027: </strong>98 tackles (40 solo, 10 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 1 safety</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402249' first='Zaiden' last='McDonald'], LB, 2026</strong>: 66 tackles (25 solo, 7 for loss), 3 sacks, 10 receptions, 212 yards, 3 TD, 32 carries, 373 yards, 4 TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Players: Weequahic Indians</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284071' first='Paul' last='Jones III'], QB, 2026: </strong>42-83, 1044 yards, 6 TD, 6 Int, 46 carries, 409 yards, 4 TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zamar Garmony, RB, 2026: </strong>52 carries, 539 yards, 8 TD, 4 receptions, 25 yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1032176' first='Tyshaun' last='Boyd'], WR/DL, 2026: </strong>16 receptions, 359 yards, 4 TD, 23 tackles (17 solo, 2 for loss), 3 sacks, 1 FF</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212396' first='Mekhi' last='Armour'], DB, 2026: </strong>37 tackles (29 solo, 2 for loss), 1 sack, 3 FF (2 TD)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1922182' first='Suenens' last='Saint Fleur'], LB, 2026: </strong>65 tackles (45 solo, 6 for loss), 1 sack, 5 FF, 1 Int (1 TD)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->