The Wareham Vikings demolished the Bourne Canalmen, 52-12, in the annual Thanksgiving game, and senior Darien Fernandez tied the school record for most career touchdowns with 35.

The Vikings started piling on the points in the first half, and never let up. They held the Canalmen’s offense, leaving them with just two touchdowns for the entire game.

The rivalry between Bourne and Wareham is the biggest game of the year (assuming the Vikings don’t go to the post-season), and generally draws the biggest crowd.

“This has always been a big game,” said cheer coach Madeline Silvia. “Always the biggest game of the season. The fans get into it, the cheerleaders get into it, and the student body gets into it.”

In the audience, the marching band entertained the crowd, and performed a tribute to comic book heroes during the halftime show.

The Vikings ended the first half with 26 points on the board, and kept beating up on the Canalmen for the remainder of the game, finishing at 52-12.

In addition to holding the record for most career touchdowns, Fernandez holds Wareham High School’s season touchdown record with 24 touchdowns, a record that had been unbroken since 1998. He also holds the record for most touchdowns scored in a single game (6), and the single-season scoring record (152 points), which has stood since 1973.

After the game, Vikings head coach Dan Nault spoke proudly of Fernandez, his teammates, and the Viking football program.

“Past players, some of whom hold the records, were cheering for Darien's success," Nault said. "I was proud of Darien for being the competitor that he is. I was proud of his effort and how his teammates worked to get him close to breaking all five records.”

Ferandez was unaware of how close he was to getting in to the record books for most of the season.

“I didn’t know about it until after the Dighton-Rehoboth football game. That’s when coach Nault told me I was close," Fernandez said. "After that game I was focused on it."

Practice has already started for the basketball season – Fernandez’s favorite sport – during which Fernandez will be shooting for the record for most career points in boys basketball.

Although he wanted to break the records, he didn’t lose sight of the fact that he was on a team, and kept winning games, rather than setting records, at the forefront of his mind.

“I always had it in the back of my head, but I was mostly focused on winning," he explained. "If I got it, I got it.”

The Vikings football program has produced NFL players, including Stephen Cooper, Division I scholarship players, and three all-state football players. “Maybe a fourth after this year,” said Nault.

Nault says that while he didn’t grow up in Wareham, he knows that football is a tradition that’s passed down from one generation to the next.

“The legacy of grandfather, father, and sons all playing in the same program makes Wareham a very special program," Nault said. "Viking football is not just a school team, but very much a town team. …These are very prestigious records for people here in this town.”