Friday Night Lights: Thayer Football Earns 21-0 Win 

The fall Friday Night Lights football game saw an incredible turnout from the Thayer community, and the Tigers rewarded that faith by posting a 21-0 victory against St. George’s. 

“Our kids were focused and fired up all week,” said Head Coach Jeff Toussaint ’82. “They fed off the energy of their classmates and others in attendance. Undoubtedly, the crowd and overall atmosphere were factors in the game.” 

Led by captains Will Bewley ’26, Drew St. Pierre ’26, CJ Talabi-Oates ’26, and John Sullivan ’26, the Oct. 10 game proved a true team effort from start to finish. Nowhere was this all-for-one attitude more evident than the defensive squad’s impressive shutout performance; buoyed by the stellar play of Talabi-Oates and the team’s five overall sacks, the Tigers simply refused to let the Dragons into the end zones of Ward Donner Field. 

The offensive side of the ball saw standout performances as well. Quarterback Dray Evriviades ’29 threw for exactly 200 yards with two TD passes to his credit. Much of that passing attack focused on wide receiver Joey Fisher ’27, who finished the night with 120 receiving yards and one touchdown reception. St. Pierre accounted for the Tigers’ other two touchdown scores. 

Thayer’s gridiron victory was the centerpiece of a festive night which included food trucks, a spirit table, and orange-and-black merchandise sold by volunteers from the Thayer Academy Parent Association (TAPA). The night even included a bit of stargazing at Cahall Observatory thanks to the efforts of the school’s astronomy club who welcomed curious guests throughout the evening. 

Members of Thayer’s 2005 football team served as honorary captains for the night with several former players and coaches walking out for the pre-game coin toss. 2025 marks the twentieth anniversary of that team’s NEPSAC championship. 

"It was an honor to welcome our 2005 team back to campus for the twentieth anniversary of their outstanding season,” said Athletic Director Bobbi Moran. “I believe that athletics is the ‘front porch’ of an institution. It’s where we welcome people in and where we welcome them back. It’s the place where we share and retell our stories. The 2005 football team's return to Ward S. Donner Field provided us the opportunity to showcase the best of what Thayer football has always believed: that the team is more important than the individual members and that working together to accomplish a goal, doing all that you can to ensure that your teammate is successful, is a lesson we believe in.” Moran called it an honor to welcome these Tigers back home.

And, while much of the night focused on athletic excellence, Thayer’s Katie McCarthy ’27 displayed artistic excellence with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem. 

Thayer’s varsity football team, now 2-2 for the season, will travel to Byfield this week for an Oct. 18 contest against Governor’s Academy. To view an up-to-date schedule for all Thayer sports teams, click here. Photos from the game can be viewed here.