Lynnfield and North Reading are longtime Thanksgiving rivals, but the week before the big game, the two towns' Rotary clubs get together for a good-natured luncheon. Special guests included the Lynnfield and North Reading coaches, as well as football and cheerleading captains from both towns.

Coach Neal Wideman of Lynnfield and his North Reading counterpart, Jeff Wall, both spoke to the gathering, and spoke highly of each other as well.

"Because Lynnfield and North Reading are similar, we kind of pull for each other until the Thanksgiving game, then we're kind of at each other," said Wideman. "If both teams play the way they are capable, I think we'll have a very good game this year."

In his own remarks, Wall also cited the similarities between the current Lynnfield and North Reading teams.

"The team that has the greater will and makes the least amount of mistakes is going to win this," said the North Reading coach.