Posted Saturday, December 01, 2007 by Times Sports Editor, Tim Whelan Jr.

Needham - As has been the case for as long as Dave Duffy can remember, the Needham football team held its banquet on the Sunday following Thanksgiving. Some years, such as 2005 and 2006, the atmosphere can be downright funereal. Losing to Wellesley can do that to a bunch.

On the heels of a 20-14 overtime victory on Thanksgiving morning in Wellesley (the first road Thanksgiving win since 1997), the Rockets again gathered at the Needham Sheraton. The players, coaches and their families again dressed in their Sunday best. But this time, those in attendance came wearing something else that had been missing in recent years' smiles.

"It is 100 percent more fun at this banquet when we beat Wellesley," said Duffy, who has been coaching at Needham since 1985, head coach since 1998. " was so proud of our seniors, and this was a great way to thank them and the rest of the team."

In past years, a highlight video of the season was showed in chronological order, with the Wellesley game serving as the finale. This year, with an ending so sweet, the season-long highlights were scrapped so that highlights of just the Wellesley game were shown.

Brian Hopkin couldn't have been happier about how that played out.

"The last few years, it was a little bit depressing watching our highlight tape end with a loss," said Hopkin, who was named the team's lone Bay State Conference All-Star.

OK, so there were bumps in the road this season as well. After starting 4-2, Needham suffered injuries and dropped four straight games. But the seniors never quit, according to Duffy.

"They never started pointing fingers when things got bad," said the coach. "They always stick together. They loved coming to practice, they listened, and towards the end they really came together.

"The Wellesley game was our second season, our playoff game," Duffy said. "To end it like we did, it wasn't unusual with how guys were stepping up. They overcame a lot."

For players such as Drew Roy, the quarterback who orchestrated the season's highlight, the arduous journey made the prize all the more sweet.

"Who cares if we were 5-6?" said Roy after the game. "This is the perfect way to end a season, and my career. This can't be topped."

Roy threw a touchdown pass, a 49-yard first-quarter strike to senior Craig Van Allen, and also ran for one in the victory.

Hopkin also played more than a small role in getting Needham its first Turkey Day win since 2004. While he rushed for only eight yards on four carries, his blocking and receiving (6 rec., 56 yards) were invaluable, as was his tenacious defense from the middle linebacker position.

"Brian blocked so well on Thanksgiving for Drew and Jean [Baptiste]," Duffy said. "He made some great plays of his own, too. He is a very well-rounded player."

At the banquet, Hopkin was presented with accolades that might be able to top beating an arch-rival: Team MVP and Defensive Player of the Year (shared with Dan Falby). Despite the awards, Hopkin said nothing can compare to what the Rockets accomplished last Thursday.

"This season wasn't the greatest we've had," Hopkin said. "We were expecting more. But none of that mattered at the end. We ended this season the best way possible, I think, and that's the best reward."

"I've had a few moments where I have looked back on the season and had some regrets about how things went," he said. "But then I realize that there were so many positive memories, and it's useless to think about the bad. We'll always have great memories."

For Hopkin and the rest of the 22 seniors (save for linebacker Michael Sharpe, who is looking to continue to play in college), Thanksgiving served as the final time they put on pads and a helmet. Hopkin had received letters to go and play at Division 3 schools around the East Coast, but has decided against continuing his career.

If the lasting impression comes from the most recent memories of something, then Needham football players will have the celebration on Hunnewell Field dancing in their heads for years to come.

Talk about leaving on a high note.