Needham High stays undefeated with Thanksgiving football win over Wellesley

The Division I Super Bowl-bound Needham High School Rockets football team remained undefeated (12-0) on Thanksgiving, beating the Wellesley High School Raiders by a 20-13 score.

Needham led 6-0 at halftime, and stretched the lead to 20-6 in the fourth quarter, with Wellesley quarterback Lukas Prock connecting with Tennyson Charney for a final score near the end of the game. (See more in Boston Globe, subscription may be needed.)

The Raiders’ playoff run ended earlier this month when #1 ranked Catholic Memorial crushed Wellesley 49-7. Needham, meanwhile, heads to the Division I Super Bowl on Dec. 5 to play Xaverian Brothers.

Needham High grad and astronaut Sunita Williams, from the International Space Station, handled the honorary coin toss at the start of the game.

Wellesley and Needham High School have been facing off in football since 1882, making it the oldest public high school football rivalry.