Hobbled with injuries since Week 3, the senior quarterback fought hard to get back on the gridiron, especially for the 131st meeting against Durfee on Thanksgiving Day.
Rodrigues did not disappoint, throwing for three touchdown passes to lead the Whalers to a hard-fought 26-21 victory over the Hilltoppers before a large crowd at B.M.C. Durfee High School on Thanksgiving Day morning.
“We’ve had a rough season with injuries and all that,” Rodrigues said. “We came out and hoped to get the seniors their last win. And we did it in nice fashion. It feels good to come out here and do what I’m expected to do.”
Unlike last season, when both teams had to be seperated at game’s end, the two proud rivals in one of the oldest holiday matchup in the country met at midfield to congratulate each other and gave hugs for a hard-fought game. Each team was led by their head coaches — Durfee’s Taylor Brown and New Bedford’s Mark DeBrito.
