Westford Academy Wins Fifth Straight Thanksgiving Classic

Behind a punishing ground game and a disruptive defensive front, Westford Academy earned a 28–10 Thanksgiving Day victory over Acton-Boxboro, securing the rivalry win for the fifth straight season.

Ben Chen powered the WA offense with 22 carries for 113 yards, consistently moving the chains and setting the tone at the line of scrimmage. Brett Moran delivered 63 yards on 13 carries and scored a pair of two-yard touchdown runs—one in the first quarter to open the scoring, and one late in the fourth to put the game out of reach.

After Moran’s early touchdown made it 7–0, Acton-Boxboro responded with a 25-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7–3. Westford answered immediately. Quarterback Jack Lafond found Teddy Hirbour for a four-yard touchdown strike, extending the WA advantage to 14–3 at halftime.

The Ghosts struck again in the third quarter, this time with Hirbour connecting with Lafond on a six-yard reverse pass for the score, making it 21–3. Acton-Boxboro trimmed the margin to 21–10 early in the fourth, but Westford responded with a long, clock-draining drive capped by Moran’s second touchdown.

While the offense executed efficiently, the story of the day was Westford Academy’s defense. The Ghosts forced three turnovers, with the defensive line dictating the tempo from start to finish. Linebacker Brett Moran anchored a front seven that spent much of the morning in the AB backfield—breaking up plays, collapsing pockets, and creating short-field opportunities for the offense.

The defensive line of JJ Wilson, Leo Koutsoukos, Alex Luhrs, JJ Welsh, Malcolm Macdonald, and Aidan Fitzpatrick controlled the trenches throughout the game, combining pressure with disciplined run defense to limit AB’s scoring chances and fuel the turnover surge.

Lafond finished 8-of-9 passing for 65 yards and added 25 rushing yards. In the receiving game, Sam Bramanti and Nolin Kropp combined for three catches and 36 yards, contributing key plays in critical moments.

With a balanced attack and a dominant defensive performance, Westford Academy closed out the season with an emphatic rivalry win, once again carrying the Thanksgiving Day trophy back to Westford.