By MATT METCALF

Sports Editor On every Thanksgiving since 1972, the Bishop Hendricken and Toll Gate football teams have squared off on the gridiron, but that won’t be the case this year.

Hendricken will be idle for the first time since 1971 as the Titans kick off a new Turkey Day rivalry with Pilgrim.

The Pats and Titans will take to the field at Warwick Vets for the first installment of the new Thanksgiving Day tradition this morning at 10 a.m.

Although it has been a tough fall for both programs, they will have plenty to play for today.

Pilgrim and Toll Gate combined for just two league wins this season, one apiece, so a win would mean a little bit more to the victor in the finale.

In addition to bragging rights being on the line in front of what is anticipated to be a huge crowd, one team will have the opportunity to wipe away the losses it endured over the last three months and end the season on a high note, hopefully building some momentum for the 2017 season.

Pilgrim started its 2016 campaign hot out of the gate, winning a non-league game against North Providence before coming back to defeat Mount Pleasant in the final minutes of its league opener.

However, the Pats haven’t been able to get in the win column since.

They have showed glimpses of brilliance on both sides of the ball, but have struggled to put together complete efforts since week No. 2.

Vets transfer and senior running back Nate Ferri has been one of the most explosive players on the offensive side of the ball for Pilgrim, as has wideout Ty Weldon-Martin. Look for Pilgrim to get those guys going early against Toll Gate.

Senior Jamal Martey has been dominant at times this season on the defensive line for a Pilgrim unit that has been good overall, particularly against Moses Brown and West Warwick – two of the better teams in Division II.

On the opposite sideline, Toll Gate has had a tough time getting anything going this season.

It produced a complete effort in a 36-14 victory against Scituate at North Smithfield High School, but, other than that, the Titans have struggled, coming out on the losing end in the rest of their games.

Junior quarterback Anthony Vann, who is a three-year starter, certainly has the ability to be a difference-maker against Pilgrim, but it all depends on whether there is room to run and open targets in the secondary.

On defense for the Titans, linebacker and sophomore captain Teagan Stringfellow was one of the top tacklers in all of Division III this season, so he has the ability to make plays and sway momentum.

My key for both teams is to get something going early, whether it be on offense or defense.

Neither team has had much to feel good about as of late, so I think the first team to create something positive in the game will gain some confidence and potentially deflate their opponent’s hopes.

Prediction: Pilgrim 42, Toll Gate 21 Hawks to take on Rams for Super Bowl The familiar foes are set to meet again.

For the fifth time in the last six years, Hendricken and La Salle will meet for the state football championship.

The Hawks earned a title berth with a 47-27 win over Portsmouth on Friday night. Senior rushers Matt DiTondo and Kwity Paye led the way with three and two touchdowns, respectively. Quarterback Chris Hindle hit wideout Tim Picard for another score, while junior Devin Rivet started the game with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

The Rams, on the other hand, pulled away from Central in the second half of their semifinal matchup in an eventual 41-13 triumph.

Hendricken has defeated La Salle in the title game four times over its six-year championship reign. It will look to continue that trend and capture an unprecedented seventh consecutive crown on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Cranston Stadium at 1 p.m.