The Beacon Bowl trophy will remain at Pilgrim.

After reclaiming the trophy with a win over rival Toll Gate in 2022, the Pats came back even stronger this time around to hang on to the prize for at least another year, as they rolled to the 32-0 shutout victory.

After a scoreless first quarter, Pilgrim would take control when it scored 21 points in the second to lead by three touchdowns at halftime. Tristan Miller rushed for his first career touchdown to get Pilgrim on the board, while quarterback Chace Roberts connected with both Justyn Murphy and Jack Coffey for scores.

Pilgrim would add a rushing touchdown from Jacob Soulliere in the third, then another by Donovan Watts in the fourth to make it 32-0. Soulliere led the team with over 100 yards on the ground while Watts’ touchdown was also the first of his career.

Watts was later named Offensive MVP, while Coffey won Defensive MVP as he hauled in a pair of interceptions.

“We didn’t have the season we were hoping for, we just missed the playoffs, so to be able to come out here on Thanksgiving with our friends, family and team, it’s nice to get this win,” said Watts. “We had that mindset. We came in thinking, ‘this is our final game, fifteen seniors, let’s go win it.’”

Coffey transferred to Pilgrim as a sophomore and grabbed two interceptions in his first game as a Patriot. Most of his highlights came on the offensive side of the ball as a receiver, so finishing his career with two picks and Defensive MVP made him feel like things came full circle.

“It’s poetic. It’s perfect, I couldn’t have asked for a better game,” said Coffey, who was in charge of covering Toll Gate’s top offensive weapon in Mason Tanner.

“I know Mason Tanner well from playing PAL with him. He’s a talented player, so I knew when he lined up on my side they were going to go for him. I noticed it and picked it off,” said Coffey.

Pilgrim head coach Blake Simpson was proud of his senior class and will miss them moving forward.

“They mean so much to me. From coming in during the shortened COVID season, to battling through that. They continued to get better each year, they saw me go through a lot in my life. They mean a lot to me and it is going to be sad without them next year,” said Pilgrim.

Watts will also miss his teammates, who have become some of his closest friends over the past four seasons.

“It meant a lot to us. Pilgrim is not just a football team, it’s a family. We always come out here expecting to win and to be able to is great,” Watts said. “We know how much work we put into it, we know how much drive we have to win.”