West Haven and Hillhouse rivalry to be honored

The Yale Bowl hosted Thanksgiving games between rivals Hillhouse and West Haven from 1939-1957. Players from both schools, who played in the games at the Bowl, will be honored during the Yale-Colgate game at the Bowl on Oct. 18.

For players who would like to be included, contact Yale director of sports publicity Steve Conn at 203-432-1455 with name, address, name of high school and year played.

Some of the rivalry’s players went on to play for Yale, including Levi Jackson. He scored six touchdowns and converted four PATs in Hillhouse’s 52-6 win over West Haven. Jackson went on to become the first black football player at Yale and the team’s captain in 1949.

Also, the rivalry drew a crowd of 40,504 in 1948, which still stands as a Connecticut high school game attendance record. Hillhouse beat West Haven 20-6.