The Thanksgiving Day football game between the Dartmouth Indians and the Fairhaven Blue Devils was close — even through the fourth quarter. 

The two teams were tied 15-15 near the start of the fourth quarter and one touchdown from each team kept them evenly matched until the last two seconds of the game.

A last second field goal from the Blue Devils, kicked in a play that started with eight seconds on the clock,  delivered a 21-24 loss to Dartmouth. 

“It was a great high school football game,” said Dartmouth Coach Rick White. "[It just] sucks to be on the other end of it."

The action went back and forth throughout the game.

The Blue Devils opened the game with an early touchdown, ending the first quarter 7-0. Dartmouth answered with two touchdowns of their own in the second quarter, giving them a 15-7 lead going into halftime.

After an intercepted throw on the Indians’ drive early in the third quarter, the Blue Devils managed to bring the game back to a tie, making their final-moment field-goal possible.

“It’s a tough loss,” said Dartmouth Quarterback Jackson Hart. 

Both Hart and White identified the action early in the third quarter as the turning point of the game. 

Dartmouth had a habit over the season of starting slowly in the second half of their games, Hart added. 

Hart said he tries to keep his team focused on the next play when they’re on the field. 

“I try to be the biggest leader I can be … I love my team,” he said.

Dartmouth students supported the team from the sidelines, with the marching band and cheerleaders keeping spirits high with their performances and with a section of students in the stands making noise for the team. 

Dartmouth student Eljah Monteiro said he and his fellow classmates knew everyone on the football team; they went to all the football team's games, and the football players went to all of the other students' games when they were in season. 

The students are there "every game, all nine we've had so far," said Monteiro. "We're all really close."

The Thanksgiving Day rivalry packed the stands. 

"Fairhaven and Dartmouth?" said one spectator, Jakeem Gonzalez. "Of course! Two little small towns like that? Two little rivals? Of course."

"I feel like Thanksgiving is not complete" without the game, said another spectator, Stylianos Erotokritakis. Erotokritakis said he has brought his family to the past six or seven years' games. 

The Thanksgiving game marked the end of the Indians' season. The team had a top-eight exit from the season's playoffs, losing 28-7 against Milton High School. 

It was a great year for the team, which put up nine wins against tough competition, said Coach White.