A season ago, the Belchertown football team was 8-3 and earned a spot in the MIAA Division 5 state tournament. The Orioles crushed rival Pathfinder in their annual Thanksgiving Day game, 61-14, to cap off one of their better seasons in recent memory.

But after losing nearly all of its production from that season, Belchertown has struggled in 2024. In their nine games played this fall, the Orioles have scored more than two touchdowns in a game just twice, and they currently sit at 0-9 going into their final game on the schedule – the 23rd Thanksgiving Day meeting with Pathfinder (2-8).

Despite a rocky season filled with injuries, setback and a boatload of bad luck, Belchertown knows all of that can be forgotten with one win on Thursday. A victory would keep the rivalry trophy in Belchertown.

“The guys are definitely motivated,” first-year Orioles head coach Keith LeBeau said. “For the seniors, it’s their last game, and this week was their last week of practices. Obviously not winning a game yet, they want to get a win under their belt and finish their season and careers off with a win. That’s really the motivation. We were fortunate enough to grab the trophy last year. Records are nothing in this game. It’s always a big game, and playing the same opponent every year on Thanksgiving, there’s pride. There’s a lot of stuff that comes with it.”

It’s clear that Belchertown’s group of nine seniors are geared up and ready to fight to end their careers on a high note, but LeBeau also mentioned the enthusiasm from his underclassmen. Those who aren’t seniors are just as hungry to come out on top, because they are well aware of what a win could do for off-season momentum.

Thursday is the last time they’ll step on a field with pads until August. They’re eager to make it count.

“Your next opportunity is not until August, and that’s for the juniors, sophomores and freshmen,” LeBeau said. “Going out with a win Thursday, you kind of forget about all the other stuff. At the end of the day, you look back 10 years from now, you remember the Thanksgiving Day game. Winning this will make up for some of the struggles we’ve had this season.”

The Belchertown-Pathfinder tradition began in 2001, and it’s been played every single season since with the exception of 2020. LeBeau is a longtime resident of Belchertown, and he hasn’t missed a Thanksgiving Day game since it started.

Whether watching his kids suit up and play against Pathfinder or coaching on the sidelines as the Orioles’ defensive coordinator prior to this season, LeBeau is no stranger to this rivalry.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be around these games since we started this game with Pathfinder,” LeBeau said. “I’ve seen a lot of them. My kids have played in them. So I know what it means for the seniors to be able to say they won this game. It’s the hard work you’ve been putting in ever since the beginning of the season that pays off now.”

Now, he’ll be taking in the 2024 edition through a new scope: as head coach of Belchertown.

“You stand on the sidelines and watch the games, and you understand how much it means to these kids,” LeBeau said. “Now, I’m coaching the kids and the excitement and pride is taken to another level. For these kids, who knows where they’re gonna be in 20 years. Maybe they’re coaching the next wave of Belchertown kids and get to talk about when they used to play in this game.”

The Orioles said goodbye to their entire backfield from last year, quarterback and skill players included. Jack Beals was a wide receiver over the past few seasons and stepped up to play quarterback as a senior this fall. Max Bessette and Brian Fuller (both seniors) filled the holes left at the running back position, and they’re now the guys carrying and catching the ball for Belchertown. All three of them play both sides of the ball, as does Brian Carlin – the Orioles’ Swiss-army knife.

Sometimes it can sounds cliché when a coach says a player can do it all, but Carlin, a senior, quite literally does. He’s played almost every position aside from quarterback over the course of his career, and he even handles the kicking duties for Belchertown.

Beals, Bessette, Fuller, Carlin and the rest of the Orioles will need to bring their A-game in order for the Os to come away triumphant for the first time this season.

“He’s been our everything,” LeBeau said of Carlin. “We’ve tried him everywhere. He’s just one of those kids you wish you had 11 of all the time. He goes out there and gives it 100 percent every single play. He’s even our kicker, too. Jack Beals, Max Bessette, Brian Fuller, all great kids. I’m excited for them to get this opportunity, and I’m gonna miss them, definitely.”

Belchertown has lost close games to Northampton (season-opener) and Easthampton, two defeats by a combined four points. In each instance, the Orioles had a close lead but couldn’t hang on in the fourth quarter. LeBeau senses another close game on the horizon Thursday.

If Belchertown wants to end up on the other side of the scoreboard than it did in those two games, it starts with cleaning up mistakes that have plagued them, like missed tackles and controlling the line of scrimmage – both of which LeBeau expects to see improvements in on Thanksgiving.

It may seem like a year to forget for the Belchertown football team, but defeating longtime rival Pathfinder in the biggest game of the season – and retaining the trophy – would more than make up for a long season of strain.

Kickoff is slated for 9 a.m. at Legion Field in Palmer.