Southeast Pennsylvania's best Turkey Day performers

Yes, it's true that Thanksgiving Day football games have taken a back seat to playoff contests in recent years. But many of us still look forward to getting up early, even in frigid or rainy conditions, and heading off to watch the next chapter in a heated neighborhood rivalry.

Southeastern Pennsylvania has its share of Turkey Day classics. To name a few: North Catholic vs. Frankford, Central vs. Northeast, Ridley vs. Interboro, and, in the Battle of Route 309, Pennridge vs. Quakertown.

Last year, we put together a top-10 list of the best games in local history. This year, we give you an all-area Thanksgiving Day team. Going back to 1980 for this subjective undertaking, the following are players that made especially memorable contributions for their respective squads:

Quarterback:

Mike Roche, Central, 1986. Roche completed 18 of 30 passes for a city record of 409 yards and five touchdowns as the Lancers buried the Northeast Vikings, 60-3. Afterward, tempers flared, and the head coaches refused to shake hands. "If that's the way he [Central coach Bob Cullman] will play football, then this is going to be a grudge match every year between us," Northeast boss Harvey "Brew" Schumer said.

Quarterback:

Greg Moylan, Central Bucks West, 1990. In front of 8,500 at War Memorial Field, Moylan threw a two-point conversion pass, threading the football through a pack of defenders, to Chris Cleland with 1 minute, 15 seconds left, and the Bucks eked out an 8-7 win against Central Bucks East.

Running back:

Blair Thomas, Frankford, 1983. Thomas, who went on to play at Penn State and in the NFL, rushed 27 times for 173 yards and four TDs as the Pioneers downed North Catholic, 27-9.

Running back:

Daryl Nelson, St. John Neumann, 1987. Nelson rushed 27 times for 337 rushing yards, then the fifth-highest total in Southeastern Pennsylvania history, and two TDs as the Pirates blasted Southern, 43-0, in the Cheesesteak Bowl.

Running back:

Jon MacQueen, Upper Moreland, 2001. Sparking a 17-14 victory, the Golden Bears' first over Hatboro-Horsham since 1984, MacQueen carried 31 times for a career-high 228 yards and two TDs. His 26 season scores broke the old single-season mark of 18 set by Scott Layer in 1984.

Lineman:

Hassan Sherrard, Springfield-Montco, 1996. Along with fellow tackle John Remmey, he helped the Spartans rush for 280 yards in a 28-9 win over visiting Lower Moreland in Erdenheim.

Lineman:

Matt McKnight, North Penn, 1992. The first-team all-Suburban One League National Conference selection was a solid two-way performer for the Knights in their 17-6 win over crosstown rival Lansdale Catholic.

Lineman:

Brandon Nixon, Pottstown, 2002. The 6-foot-7, 335-pounder flexed his run-blocking skills in a 41-0 romp over neighboring Pioneer Athletic Conference rival Owen J. Roberts that snapped a four-year losing skid.

Lineman:

Colin Delaney, Pennridge, 2001. Delaney, a 6-5, 285-pounder, ignited an offense that scored 21 points in the second quarter and 33 straight in a 33-12 romp against the visiting Panthers.

Lineman:

Travis Poston, Hatboro-Horsham, 2007. The Villanova recruit, a first-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania selection by The Inquirer, was a monster in the trenches as the Hatters knocked off Upper Moreland, 35-21.

Wide receiver:

Pete Chromiak, St. Joseph's Prep, 2000. The 6-1, 180-pound junior wideout turned all three of his catches into TDs. He and Mike McGann connected for scores of 40, 51 and 80 yards as the Hawks tripped up La Salle, 27-14.

Wide receiver:

Matt Ries, St. Joseph's Prep, 1999. Like Chromiak a year later, Ries, a 5-9, 160-pound senior, was an unlikely hero in a 21-20 win versus the Explorers. He came in with zero varsity TDs and left with three.

Wide receiver:

Frank Gubler, Father Judge, 1987. Gubler was the top target for Chris Fagan (17-for-20 passing, 273 yards, three TDs) in a 46-31 win vs. Rowland Avenue neighbor Lincoln. He had eight receptions for 149 yards and two TDs.

Multipurpose:

Hikee Johnson, North Penn, 1998. In the final minute against Lansdale Catholic, Johnson, also a quick-footed defensive back, caught a "jailbreak screen" and galloped 67 yards on a muddy field to give the Knights a thrilling 19-18 victory.

Placekicker:

Chris "Scooter" Ellis, Father Judge, 1987. Ellis joined Fagan in setting a city record - and enraging Lincoln coach William "Jeb" Lynch and his players. His 44-yard field goal with three ticks left upped his season total to a then-best 10.

Lineman:

Pat Fahie, Central Bucks East, 1983. In East's 7-6 win over C.B. West, the tackle made a key sack of QB Mike Pettine Jr. while the Bucks were driving for an apparent go-ahead score in the fourth quarter. Soon after, he blocked a 29-yard field goal try to preserve the victory.

Lineman:

Keith Lachawiec, La Salle, 1995. The senior end was a constant menace to St. Joseph's Prep QB David Hand in a 35-9 romp at La Salle University. At fullback, he rushed 11 times for 35 yards and a TD.

Lineman:

Kyle O'Neill, Sun Valley, 2006. In coach Joe Possenti's send-off, the 6-4, 283-pound O'Neil contributed on both sides of the ball as the Vanguards routed Chichester, 41-14, at Anthony Apichella Memorial Field.

Lineman:

Paul Ostick, Malvern Prep, 2005. With help from fellow lineman Mark Miller, Ostick's rugged play helped the Inter-Academic League champions blank Monsignor Bonner, 21-0, on Thanksgiving Eve at Villanova Stadium.

Linebacker:

Cody Fleming, Upper Perkiomen, 2007. It was a dominant and gut-wrenching two-way performance. Fleming notched 13 tackles, including 11 solos and a sack. He also carried 16 times for 234 yards and four TDs. Fleming wore a No. 32 jersey, in memory of teammate Keith Klepac, tragically killed in an automobile accident before the season.

Linebacker:

Rob Swett, Central Bucks West, 1992. The hard-hitting linebacker sparked the Bucks to 28-23 victory over Central Bucks East - and a 19-2-1 lead in the series. At fullback, he ran 19 times for 73 yards and a pair of scores.

Linebacker:

Nick Shute, Upper Moreland, 2003. The 6-0, 210-pound senior posted five tackles (three solos) and made a fumble recovery as the Golden Bears held off visiting Hatboro-Horsham. At fullback, he netted 77 yards on 15 carries.

Back:

Bill Bair, Ridley, 1988. Against Interboro, the senior safety had an interception, his seventh of the season, as the Green Raiders topped the Bucs, 14-7. At QB, Bair executed a ball-control passing game.

Back:

Jermaine Slade, St. Joseph's Prep, 1997. Against La Salle, before nearly 8,000 at cold and wind-swept La Salle University, Slade intercepted a Brett Gordon pass with 47 seconds left to preserve a 20-16 victory.

Back:

Daryl Robinson, North Catholic, 2006. In the rain and mud, his tackling and coverage skills boosted the Falcons to a 23-14 win at Large and Dyre Streets. He also rushed 26 times for 154 yards and three scores.

Punter:

Scott White, Upper Dublin, 1992. With booming punts and the game-winning extra point, White was the difference in a 21-20, come-from-behind triumph over Wissahickon in Fort Washington.