By Hilltop Star Staff—

Passaic has not beaten Clifton for 13 years in the annual Turkey Day Game. That sad fact has now been remedied, because this year the Passaic Indians have beaten the Clifton Mustangs. “Beating Clifton is an unexplainable feeling!” said Senior Dennis Morris (fullback/linebacker), “I felt like I was playing for the city of Passaic, my coach, and most of all my brothers (teammates).”

The Passaic football team has had a difficult season, losing most games. Students often criticized the team for not winning games, and many of the players were dejected and a little disheartened. However this season was the year that Passaic finally beat Clifton for the turkey day trophy. “We changed history, we rewrote it, our names will forever be remembered in the city of Passaic by the people, by our coaches, by everyone. I’ll never forget how we finally came together and finished what we started,” said Senior Bryan Espinoza (Left Tackle).

“This is the greatest feeling ever,” said Espinoza, “to beat Clifton in my senior year.” “Hopefully this is the beginning of a new era in the Passaic football program,” said Morris.

PHS players celebrate after the final play of the game. Photo by Jennifer Slosarik

Only future games will prove whether this was just an aligning of planets, allowing the Passaic team to win, or if this is the beginning of a new era. Coach Delzotto believes that the success of this team was inevitable. “There ain’t no indian that ain’t been born that can’t ride a wild mustang,” said Delzotto, to motivate his team. They certainly did.