When Leaves begin to fall, hopes begin to rise for the town of Londonderry, and Lancer fans everywhere begin to think that maybe this year we will finally be able to win the plaque. 

Outside of 2020, Lancer fans have been disappointed by the results of the recent Mack Plaque games, but this year’s athletes are looking to change the dynamic and bring the plaque home. 

All the fall athletes have been working hard all off-season and the beginning of the regular season, but this week marks the biggest game most teams might have this season as we try to bring the plaque back home where it belongs. 

This event first dates back to 1983, and includes eight athletic competitions between Londonderry and our cross-town rivals, Pinkerton. The school who wins the most events gets to hold the plaque until the next year where it starts all over again. 

This year the games will be held in Londonderry, so teams will be looking to defend home turf and bring back the plaque for the first time since 2020 when the lancers won 5-3, before losing it in 2021 with a close 4-3 defeat.

The first game on the board this year starts off with a very high stakes game Friday night, as the highly ranked Lancer varsity boy’s soccer team takes on the Astro’s, which is immediately followed by girls’ soccer at 6:30. 

Then things kick right backup on Saturday, where field hockey gets us started at 10:30 a.m., and volleyball to follow right after at noon. Then it ends with possibly the biggest game of the event, football, which takes place at 2 p.m. at Lancer park where two of the top 3 teams in the state will face off. 

It’s on our field this year, and it’s our turn to win the plaque, let’s go Lancers!