By Alison Echeverria Soto ’26
The Derby Red Raiders finished the season with a record of 3–7, losing their last game against Oxford on Nov. 27, 2025, with a score of 6–36. Lack of communication and distraction led the team to crumble under pressure.
Captain Brooklyn Fernandez ’26 stated that they prepared by “practicing every day, even on the weekends, with extra work with the pads and two-hour-long film sessions on the weekends.” We can see how much went into the Red Raiders’ final game with hopes to keep their boot. The reason the two teams face off every Thanksgiving Day for this boot is a fascinating story. Oxford football coach Joe Stochmal told CT Insider that “Oxford residents used to travel nine miles to go to church on Sundays. Some people actually walked. The footwear at that time was a boot very similar to this boot.” The teams chose to represent each Thanksgiving game with a boot to honor the nine-mile walk they would make.
Captain Quincy Carter ’26 passed the ball at the 15-yard line and followed through by scoring the only touchdown during the third quarter, giving the team a sprinkle of hope, but they failed to keep up with Oxford, who scored five touchdowns. Luckily, the cheer team boosted morale among Derby High School by performing a halftime routine with the Oxford cheerleaders as a show of unity between the two schools. After the loss, the Red Raiders had to give the Boot back to the Wolverines but still have hopes to get it back next year.
The defeat was a massive blow to the football and cheerleading teams, many of whom had been competing together since their freshman year. They have all grown up together and become a tight family with friendships that will last beyond high school. Although they lost their final game, they won with all the memories and laughs they shared with each other, including improving together throughout the years.
The Raider Press 