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GLOUCESTER | In terms of the standings, yesterday's Thanksgiving Day contest between unbeaten Gloucester and winless Danvers meant absolutely nothing.

The Falcons had not tasted success this fall, but an upset victory over their archrivals from Cape Ann would have put a happy ending on an otherwise frustrating season.

GLOUCESTER | In terms of the standings, yesterday's Thanksgiving Day contest between Gloucester and winless Danvers meant absolutely nothing.

But that held very little water with the Northeastern Conference Large champion Fishermen.

Where: Newell Stadium, Gloucester

Date: Thursday, Nov. 22

Time: 10 a.m.

Coaches: John Sullivan, Danvers; Paul Ingram, Gloucester.

Captains: Danvers: Chris Martin, Sr. RB/LB; Kevin Keogh, Sr. C/LB; Patrick Hennessey, Sr. OG/DE; Gloucester: Cam Marston, Sr., TE/DE; Andrew Fulford, Sr. RB; Adam Quinn, Sr. OL/DL; Mario Peritore, Sr. OL/DL.

Clemson's Death Valley has been a pit for Atlantic Coast Conference football opponents over the years. Danvers might be inclined to think of Blocksidge Field in the same terms. The fact the Big Blue (9-1) had an opportunity to clinch the Northeastern Conference's small division championship and an MIAA playoff berth didn't help Danvers in its latest bid to snap the Blocksidge Hex.

DANVERS | Accentuate the positive.

In what has been a difficult season for the Danvers High football team, the players and coaching staff are continually looking for strong individual and team efforts that will help the squad improve in the long run.

Joe McDermott scored two touchdowns and had 108 yards rushing as the Vikings handled the Falcons in the Northeastern Conference. Chris Beranger added two touchdowns and 60 yards rushing.

Danvers, which dropped to 0-8, got a strong game at defensvie tackle from senior Shean Hurley.

The Marblehead football team had plenty of incentive in a 15-7 hard-fought, sloppy victory over Danvers that included eight turnovers Saturday at Dr. Deering Field. The award-winning Danvers High band was, as usual, flawless.

DANVERS | It seems as though the Beverly High football team got the memo that the Second Season | better known as the Northeastern Conference Small schedule | began in earnest last night.

Apparently, Danvers High didn't get the same message. Junior running back Rashad Sims scored three rushing touchdowns and senior captain Greg Pierce rambled for 155 yards and another score as the visiting Panthers blew out the Falcons, 34-6, last night at Dr. Deering Stadium.

Danvers (0-5) is at home tonight (7) and will have its hands full against 2-3 Beverly. The Falcons dropped a 35-14 decision to Beverly last year, and it wasn't the great Pat Bailey (now at Tufts) who destroyed them. With Bailey injured, Greg Pierce ran wild against the Blue-and-White | and he's still around. Pierce went for a mere 191 yards and two touchdowns in Beverly's 13-6 win over Peabody last week.

Danvers scored a first quarter touchdown on Chris Martin's 8-yard run, and Nick Pellino added the extra point. But host Lynn Classical scored the game's final 32 points in a 32-7 victory at Manning Field.