The traditional Turkey Day football game between Portland and Deering high schools is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday. Nov. 27, with a 10 a.m. kickoff. Deering is hosting this 113th edition of the game, which will be held at Memorial Field at Deering High School, not Fitzpatrick Stadium.

The Portland Public Schools looks forward to seeing the Portland community come out to celebrate this tradition and cheer on our students while enjoying the game. Game day tickets are $5 for general admission, $3 for seniors and veterans and free for PPS students with an ID/Metro Pass. The district requires that middle school students be accompanied by an adult or parent/guardian for all athletic events.

The game is an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with former classmates and friends, while working up an appetite for the Thanksgiving meal. Also, new this year, fans are encouraged to bring a food donation for the Preble Street Food Pantry, which will be collected at the event. Not only will that help local hungry families, but ticket prices will be just $1 for each fan who donates a food item for the pantry.

The Preble Street Food Pantry, located inside the Preble Street Food Security Hub, plays a key role in combating food insecurity in our community, providing approximately 20,000-30,000 nourishing meals to hundreds of families and individuals each month. Most needed food items are: jelly; hearty soups and stews; “fun” cereal and oatmeal; pasta sauce; peanut butter; hot chocolate packets; protein shakes such as Ensure; granola and breakfast bars; canned fish and meat; snack items; rice; pasta; juice; cheese; chocolates; ground coffee; baked beans and black beans (in cans); pancake mixes; condiments; and pickles.

Three very prestigious awards will be presented after the game:

●      The Merv Kilgore Award will be presented for the 39th time to the most outstanding Deering player.

●      The Vinnie Allen Award will be presented for the 42nd time to the most outstanding Portland player.

●      The James A. Banks Unsung Hero Award will be presented for 43nd time to a hard-working player for his contributions on and off the field.

For those traveling for the holiday,  the Turkey Day Football Game will be livestreamed on Deering's HUDL TV site (FREE) at: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/me/portland/organization/11276/deering-high-school.

The Portland Public Schools is Maine’s largest school district, with nearly 6,500 students, and it’s also the most diverse. About one-third of the district’s students come from homes where languages other than English are spoken—a total of 59 languages. Approximately 47 percent of the district’s students are white and 53 percent are students of color. More than half of all PPS students are economically disadvantaged.