By Michael Letendre
Being able to ring the old brass bell after the Thanksgiving Day football battle between Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern is always a treat.
And it’s not just about ringing a bell after the game.
That bell gets to sit in the victors trophy case for the entire year and it’s been in Central’s possession since 2015.
However, the game also awards offensive and defensive awards – a tradition that was started in 1996.
The Thomas R. Monahan Player of the Game Awards are given to four players, two apiece from Central and Eastern on offense and defense. 9
However, there’s always the possibility of multiple award winners – spanning multiple years.
Some of the players have earned multiple awards over the years and this Thursday, Eastern’s Jaiden Fore (2022 Offensive Player of the Game) and Central’s Anthony Paulino (2022 Defensive Player of the Game) can defend those honors and earn them again.
There’s a very good chance of that coming to pass in this year’s showdown.
Here’s a look at every Battle for the Bell Offensive and Defensive Player of The Game award winners, starting with the first awards handed out in 1996 (those awards are voted for by the media):
Thomas R. Monahan – Player of the Game Awards
1996
BE Offensive Player of the Game: Reinaldo Soto
BE Defense Player of the Game: Rob Houle
BC Offense Player of the Game: Nick Richardson
BC Defense Player of the Game: Garth Camp
1997
BE Offense: Pat Brookman
BE Defense: Ryan Forcier
BC Offense: Craig Capurso
BC Defense: Brian Kozikowski
1998
BE Offense: Pat Brookman and Reinaldo Soto
BE Defense: Ryan Bauder
BC Offense: Craig Capurso
BC Defense: Jim Piotrowski
1999
BE Offense: Ed Stanton
BE Defense: Eric Carbone
BC Offense: Tim Washington
BC Defense: Mike Egan
2000
BE Offense: Eric Carbone
BE Defense: Adam Zadrozny
BC Offense: Tim Washington
BC Defense: Mike Drury
2001
BE Offense: Brian Walker
BE Defense: Adam Zadrozny
BC Offense: Tim Washington
BC Defense: Jason Kasparian
2002
BE Offense: Brian Walker
BE Defense: Nick Consonni
BC Offense: Breyone Evans
BC Defense: Mike Correa
2003
BE Offense: Greg Jenkins
BE Defense: Kyle Curtis
BC Offense: D.J. Hernandez
BC Defense: Josh Whistnant
2004
BE Offense: Lorenzo Brown
BE Defense: Jeff Laroche
BC Offense: Cory Brown, Sean Ware and Steve Ziogas
BC Defense: Mike Fiorini
2005
BE Offense: Kyle Mullaney
BE Defense: Greg Grochowski
BC Offense: Dustin Tucker
BC Defense: Jeremy Raducha
2006
BE Offense: Todd Krolikowski
BE Defense: Joe Langer
BC Offense: Aaron Hernandez
BC Defense: Dennis Sansoucie
2007
BE Offense: David Casanova
BE Defense: Tom Tarantino
BC Offense: Matt Coyne
BC Defense: Nolan Galipo
2008
BE Offense: Dean Connelly
BE Defense: Tyrell Holmes
BC Offense: Dymetric Maisonet
BC Defense: Dan Belfi
2009
BE Offense: Raymond Ortiz
BE Defense: Dylan Oakes
BC Offense: Jared Lincoln
BC Defense: Kyle Pecevich
2010
BE Offense: Dylon Ouellette
BE Defense: Tyrell Holmes
BC Offense: Tim White
BC Defense: John Simpson
2011
BE Offense: Jahmil Effend
BE Defense: Mitch Wheelock
BC Offense: Mike Benites
BC Offense: Dylan Stanco
2012
BE Offense: Nick Crowley
BE Defense: Harrison Sacharko
BC Offense: Jake Martel
BC Defense: Jarrett Michaels
2013
BE Offense: Gerry Ouellette
BE Defense: Kyle Porter
BC Offense: Tyler Burrow
BC Defense: Christian Hildebrand
2014
BE Offense: Gerry Ouellette
BE Defense: Allen Arbuckle
BC Offense: D’Andre Conaway
BC Defense: Tommy Nelligan
2015
BE Offense: Josh Sampson
BE Defense: Zac Thompson
BC Offense: Noah Cruz
BC Defense: Tyler Boi
2016
BE Offense: Connor Trowbridge
BE Defense: Tyler Mason
BC Offense: Luis Medina
BC Defense: Mike Guzman
2017
BE Offense: Ariza Kolloverja
BE Defense: Elijah Gagliardo
BC Offense: Dathan Hickey
BC Defense: Devon Dawson
2018
BE Offense: Justin Marshall
BE Defense: Matt D’Amato
BC Offense: Justus Fitzpatrick
BC Defense: Ryan Rodriguez
2019
BE Offense: Alex Marshall
BE Defense: Bobby Mosback
BC Offense: Victor Rosa
BC Defense: Jakob Salinas
2020 – No Game
2021
BE Offense: Alex Marshall
BE Defense: Austin Shorette
BC Offense: Victor Rosa
BC Defense: Dan Lauretti
2022
BE Offense: Jaiden Fore
BE Defense: Austin Shorette
BC Offense: Tre Blair
BC Defense: Anthony Paulino
And while we’re here, let’s look at all the scores from past Central/Eastern battles: a historic rivalry that first took place in 1959 when Bristol High School broke off into two individual institutions.
Currently, the Rams lead the all-time series by 15 games.
Here’s all the scores from all the past showdowns:
All-Time Records: Bristol Central leads the series, 38-23-2
1959 — Bristol Central, 14-0
1960 — Bristol Central, 20-0
1961 — Bristol Central, 20-0
1962 — Tie, 6-6
1963 — Bristol Eastern, 16-0
1964 — Bristol Eastern, 21-0
1965 — Bristol Eastern, 14-0
1966 — Bristol Eastern, 20-13
1967 — Bristol Central, 8-0
1968 — Bristol Eastern, 20-13
1969 — Bristol Eastern, 27-6
1970 — Bristol Eastern, 32-22
1971 — Bristol Central, 34-0
1972 — Bristol Central, 16-12
1973 — Bristol Eastern, 7-0
1974 — Bristol Eastern, 7-6
1975 — Bristol Central, 19-0
1976 — Bristol Central, 20-6
1977 — Bristol Central, 24-21
1978 — Bristol Central, 22-6
1979 — Bristol Central, 8-6
1980 — Bristol Central, 12-0
1981 — Bristol Central, 13-8
1982 — Bristol Central, 18-13
1983 — Bristol Central, 6-0
1984 — Bristol Central, 33-8
1985 — Bristol Eastern, 14-8
1986 — Bristol Central, 31-0
1987 — Bristol Central, 22-0
1988 — Bristol Eastern, 14-12
1989 — Bristol Central, 20-13
1990 — Bristol Central, 34-14
1991 — Bristol Central, 20-14
1992 — Bristol Central, 24-0
1993 — Bristol Central, 18-0
1994 — Bristol Eastern, 22-6
1995 — Bristol Central, 12-0
1996 — Bristol Eastern, 29-14
1997 — Bristol Eastern, 33-7
1998 — Bristol Eastern, 35-7
1999 — Bristol Central, 28-6
2000 — Bristol Central, 39-0
2001 — Bristol Central, 36-12
2002 — Bristol Central, 38-0
2003 — Bristol Central, 20-0
2004 — Bristol Central, 20-0
2005 — Bristol Central, 20-7
2006 — Tie, 14-14
2007 — Bristol Eastern, 42-14
2008 — Bristol Eastern, 34-28
2009 — Bristol Eastern, 46-13
2010 — Bristol Eastern, 35-0
2011 — Bristol Eastern, 21-14
2012 — Bristol Eastern 17-6
2013 — Bristol Eastern, 21-18
2014 — Bristol Eastern, 20-18
2015 — Bristol Central, 12-4
2016 — Bristol Central, 30-12
2017 — Bristol Central, 33-27
2018 — Bristol Central 24-19
2019 — Bristol Central 34-32 (OT)
2020 — No Game due to the pandemic
2021 — Bristol Central 38, Bristol Eastern 8
2022 — Bristol Central 13, Bristol Eastern 6
All TBE readers, supporters and donors
The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.
- Non-members will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
- Free readers and people who have subscribed by email will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
- Donors and financial supporters will have unlimited access as long as they log in.
Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.
