The Gloucester football team celebrates in the end zone after a 33-0 win over Gloucester Catholic in the football game played at JA Lynch Field on the campus of Gloucester City High School in Gloucester City, New Jersey on Thursday, November 28, 2024. Chris Baker/D2 Sports Network
GLOUCESTER CITY - In the past 49 meetings, it's hard to tell if and when the Gloucester City High School football team had ever held the lead in the all-time series record between the Lions and Gloucester Catholic.
In the 50th meeting, Gloucester made sure there was no doubt who held the lead with a 33-0 thumping of their Thanksgiving rival. The record now stands at 25-24-1 in favor of the Lions. It's Gloucester's fifth straight shutout win over Gloucester Catholic.
From the jump, it was all Gloucester as Mason Widman took the second play from scrimmage 66 yards to pay dirt giving the host Lions an early lead they'd never surrender.
Gloucester would be held scoreless for the remainder of the opening period but started the second quarter on the right foot. Kevin Boulden fled from a broken pocket and scrambled 25 yards to the painted turf extending the lead. Boulden then snuck his way into the end zone with just a few ticks before the halftime intermission.
The second half was business as usual as Trevin Burkhardt stumbled his way onto the stat sheet with a score followed by Ashton Wall plunging into the touchdown column as well.
From then on, the clock ran for the rest of the contest and eventually ran out for the rest of the season for the crosstown rivals.
Since 2020 Gloucester has outscored Gloucester Catholic 205-0. The spark for the half-decade scoring outburst? A 48-0 win in favor of Gloucester during the 2020 season where the game was pushed back to the Saturday after Thanksgiving due to a COVID quarantine period for the Lions after an 8-6 loss to Collingswood.
In that game, now Kutztown running back Steven Burkhardt scored four total touchdowns blazing a path that his younger brother, Trevin, would follow. The younger Burkhardt would not just follow in his elder brother's footsteps, but he'd pave his own success story primarily on the defensive side of the ball.
In his swan song, Trevin rushed for a score, picked up a pair of sacks, and a handful of tackles for a loss on the defensive side of the ball.
"I'm glad I was able to make a name for myself and not just be known for my dad and brother," Burkhardt said. "I gotta give credit to Steve for helping me along the way though. He's been by my side from the beginning and now until the end."
Breaking on to the scene a year ago as one of South Jersey's premier running backs, Mason Widman got his first real test as a freshman in the first round of of the 2021 Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs as a defensive back. In the postseason matchup versus New Egypt, Widman allowed a touchdown reception.
Since that game, Widman has found himself as a backbone of the success Gloucester has seen during his time as a Lion. In his final game, Widman cemented his legacy as another workhorse back to come through Market Street.
"It's been a great four years," Widman said. "This season wasn't what we expected but I wouldn't ask for another school to play for. I'm really going to miss playing with these guys."
As the annual tradition of Thanksgiving rivalries being played on the actual holiday slowly dwindles, the Holy City will do its best to keep the history alive.
"We're always going to play this game," Gloucester coach Rob Bryan said. "It doesn't matter the records of either team, it doesn't matter the weather conditions, or whatever is thrown in the way, we will always play on Thanksgiving. There's nothing better than waking up early in the morning to play your rival then hopefully go home and enjoy some food with family."
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