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It was called The Turkey Day Classic, Dillard vs Xavier football rivalry

25th November 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Ro Brown
Contributing Writer

Before there was a Bayou Classic between Grambling and Southern, there was a Turkey Day Classic between Dillard and Xavier.

Yes. For those of you who didn’t know, Dillard and Xavier actually had real football teams—tackle football teams, not flag.

The football rivalry between New Orleans’ non-public HBCU’s didn’t last long by football rivalry standards. They met on the gridiron 14 times from 1946 to 1959 with Xavier dominating the series 11-3.Turkey-Day-Classic--112519

It was a Thanksgiving Day social event for black New Orleanians and along with bragging rights for at least a year, the prize was the “Bone of Contention” – literally, the hind-femur of a bull, mounted on a plaque.

Xavier-Dillard on Thanksgiving Day may have lacked the longevity of Tuskegee-Alabama State, the first such classic lasting nearly 90 years, but it was just as heated.

In 1957, The Turkey Day Classic resulted in a win for the Dillard Blue Devils. Above, at the left, Captain Willie Bradley of Xavier and Miss Georgia Woodruff, Gold Rush queen; surrender the famous 'Bone of Contention' to John Moss, captin of the Blue Devils and Miss Audrey Castine, Dillard's queen. The final score was Dillard 13, Xavier 12

In 1957, The Turkey Day Classic resulted in a win for the Dillard Blue Devils. Above, at the left, Captain Willie Bradley of Xavier and Miss Georgia Woodruff, Gold Rush queen; surrender the famous ‘Bone of Contention’ to John Moss, captin of the Blue Devils and Miss Audrey Castine, Dillard’s queen. The final score was Dillard 13, Xavier 12

November 28, 1946- Xavier 40 Dillard 0 at Xavier

The inaugural contest was played in the mud due to rainy and cold conditions. Gold Rush quarterback Claude Paxton and running back Robert Bocage (who would become a coach at Cohen High School) led the way. Xavier head coach Giles Wright resigns after the game and is replaced by legendary Xavier Prep coach Alfred “Zach” Priestley.

November 27, 1947- Dillard 19 Xavier 7 at Xavier

The Blue Devils pull an upset despite Xavier scoring first on a Robert Sims to Llwellyn Soniat (later a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement in New Orleans) scoring toss. Scoring runs by Leonard Shepard and Julius Penn of 55 and 35 yards respectively were enough for the win before a crowd of 6,000 fans.

November 25, 1948- Dillard 26 Xavier 6 at Xavier

Coach Armstead Pierro’s Blue Devils showed why they won the South Central Athletic Conference title finishing with a 7-1 record. 7,500 fans saw a crunching ground attack led by Charlie “Choo Choo” Jackson.

November 24, 1949- Xavier 23 Dillard 19 at Dillard

The first Turkey Day Classic played at Dillard’s Alumni Field saw freshman quarterback Eddie Flint direct a long scoring drive in the final minute culminating with a touchdown pass to Lorenzo Merriweather for the winning points. Flint would have a successful career as a high school coach winning four state championships as a head coach and three as an assistant.

November 23, 1950- Xavier 60 Dillard 0 at Xavier

Xavier capped an 7-1 season with the largest deficit in the history of the Turkey Day Classic. Xavier’s only loss came at the hands of Southern who finished at the top of the final Associated Negro Press (ANP) National Poll. The Gold Rush finished 11th in the final Top 30 Poll. Lineman Willie Bloxton was named to the Pittsburgh Courier All American Team on offense.

November 22, 1951- Xavier 46 Dillard 6 at Dillard

The Gold Rush outgained Dillard in total offense 464 to 109 finishing the season at 8-1. Earlier in the season Coach Alfred Priestley picked up his first win over three-time defending national champ Southern and finished 10th in the ANP Poll. Bloxton is a Pittsburgh Courier all American again — this time on defense. Xavier goes 15-2 over two seasons.

November 28, 1952- Xavier 40 Dillard 6 at Xavier

The Bone of Contention Trophy is introduced into the rivalry. Despite a 4-5 record, Xavier grabbed significant individual honors. Lineman Ernest Campbell was an All-Southern Intercollegiate Conference (SIAC) selection. Center Halvan Lieuteau was selected to the Catholic All- American squad, the first time a player from a HBCU was selected to a national all-american team.

November 26, 1953- Xavier 9 Dillard 7 at Dillard

The Blue Devils came in with a five-game winning streak however a 2-point safety was the difference before 6,500 fans who were treated to a bench-clearing brawl near the end of the contest. 4-4-1 Xavier finished the season 16th in the ANP Poll while 5-3 Dillard was 25th.

November 25, 1954- Xavier 39 Dillard 13 at Xavier

Wide receiver David Parker grabbed scoring tosses from quarterbacks Ronald Chenier and Louis Holmes before an over-flow crowd of 9,500 fans. 7-2 Xavier finished 7th in the ANP Poll. Priestley is named Small Catholic College National Coach of the Year. Lineman Earnest Campbell and receiver David Parker were selected to the Catholic Small College All American Team. Campbell was also a Pittsburgh Courier All American.

November 24, 1955- Xavier 27 Dillard 19 at Dillard

David Carter, Johnny Crear and James Stone rushed for touchdowns in the second period. Xavier finishes 5-3. Dillard 3-3-1. 6,000 fans in attendance.

November 22, 1956- Xavier 24 Dillard 9 at Xavier

Running back Willie “Zeke” Bradley scored on runs of 69, 25 and 13 yards as the 6-3-1 Gold Rush made it 8-in-a-row over the Blue Devils.

November 28, 1957- Dillard 13 Xavier 12 at Dillard

The Blue Devils snap an eight-game losing streak to the Gold Rush thanks to a goal line stand before 7,000 fans. Finishing with an 8-1 record and champions of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) in its initial season. Coach Armstead Pierro called it the “best team in Dillard history.” Running back John Moss and linemen Willie Dempsey and Johnnie Williams named all-conference.

November 27, 1958- Xavier 14 Dillard 6 at Xavier

Albert Williams and Elliot Labat were the offensive stars for Xavier before a Turkey Day crowd of 8,000. Gold Rush finish 4-3-1, Blue Devils 4-4-1.

November 26, 1959-Xavier 21 Dillard 9 at Dillard

Both clubs finished with 3-5 marks. A crowd of 7,000 had no idea they were witnessing history – no one knew it would be the final installment of the Turkey Day Classic.

Epilogue

Near the end of the spring semester of 1960, Xavier announced they would discontinue athletics due to lack of funds. Xavier was not alone. Between 1960 and 1965, HBCU’s of similar size like Tougaloo, Rust, Philander Smith, Paul Quinn and Lincoln (Penn.) either dropped football or all athletics.

Dillard kept the Turkey Day Classic going for five seasons after Xavier dropped athletics with Thanksgiving contests against schools like Wiley, Philander Smith and Bishop.

On May 10, 1965, Dr. Albert Dent, president of Dillard, announced an end to the Blue Devil football program for economic reasons and with the number of schools dropping the sport, scheduling became too difficult. However sports like basketball and track would continue.

The 14-year run of Dillard vs. Xavier on Thanksgiving Day was New Orleans’ last intra-city college football rivalry.

This article originally published in the November 25, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.

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