The Black and White

by Michaela Conrady

On Thanksgiving morning, November 27th, 2025, Pilgrim’s football team, cheerleaders, and band, along with several family and friends, all arrived to celebrate the final football game of the season against the Tollgate Titans. The Beacon Bowl is an annual, iconic matchup of Warwick’s two public high schools, Tollgate and Pilgrim, in a heated rivalry tradition to close out their respective football seasons. Taking place for years, it remains a treasured game both for players and spectators. 

Pilgrim has won the Beacon Bowl for the previous four consecutive years, and took home a fifth win this Thanksgiving, ending with a final score of 20-0. 

With an immediate lead of 6-0 from Connor Fitzgerald in the first quarter, it was an electric game from the start. Pilgrim held a strong offense and defense, maintaining the 6-0 score throughout the first two quarters. It was after regaining possession in the early minutes of the fourth quarter when El Rhazali racked up his second touchdown, immediately followed by a two-point pass from Evan Nolan to Mason Whiting, setting the Patriots to a winning score of 20-0. After the Patriots’ second touchdown, Adam El Rhazali intercepted the Titans, securing Pilgrim victory further. With this, Pilgrim Football keeps the Beacon Bowl trophy for another year. This year’s Beacon Bowl was one of the most energetic games of the season, due to both the attending students and our own Pilgrim football team, it was extremely empowering for all the players, coaches, and students culminating in the 20-0 win.

Pilgrim Football says goodbye to 7 seniors this year, and many are excited to finish with a win against our rival school. With this as their final game of the 2025-2026 season, the Beacon Bowl was a motivational, dynamic end to the Patriots year, sending the seniors off with a win.