Project Blackout: Windham hosts Londonderry in important football game with larger purpose

Friday night’s Division I Central Conference clash in Windham has football playoff implications.

However, Windham head coach Jack Byrne and Londonderry head coach Jimmy Lauzon realize this encounter is so much more than a football game at 7 p.m.

After all, it is Windham’s Blackout game to support pediatric cancer research.

“This is something we as a team discussed and started fundraising for back in the off-season,” Lauzon said. “This night stands for so much more. It’s a much bigger cause than just any football game.”

The football game should be a good one though. Londonderry comes into the night 3-1 after losing 24-20 in its annual Mack Plaque matchup with Pinkerton Academy. Host Windham enters the week 2-2 following a 33-28 loss to Salem, and the Jaguars own loss to Pinkerton in the season opener.

It could be looked at as a must-win game for both teams in terms of playoff qualifying or seeding. The place will be packed for good football and a purpose. Byrne estimates between 6,000-7,000 in attendance.

“This is the perfect opponent for a game like this,” Byrne said. “Two neighboring communities with dedicated fans, who are all coming together for a playoff-type game, but also participating in raising money for an important cause. There’s a large amount of people that will be here for more than football, and it’s amazing.”

Windham has been hosting Blackout games all week leading into Friday night’s matchup.

Girls soccer kicked off Windham Blackout Cancer Week, followed by field hockey, volleyball and boys soccer. Youth teams for the Windham Baseball/Softball League, Windham Soccer Association/South Central Soccer Club and Windham Wolverines Football also supported Project Blackout’s efforts to raise awareness for pediatric cancer at various games throughout the week.

Now the stage is set for the 12th annual Windham Football Blackout Game - with a twist.

Normally it’s just the home team fans wearing the blackout gear. In a special showing of solidarity, this year’s event will include participation from the visiting fans as well.

“This is a cause that’s close to all of our hearts,” Lauzon said. “I think everyone has some sort of connection to cancer in their family or through a friend. And this is for childhood cancer.

"If we can’t all come together to fight that, there’s something wrong. This is why I wanted our program to be a part of this. It’s why I always try to be part of the CHaD Game. This is important to me.”

The importance of this cause stressed by Byrne and Lauzon is why the non-profit, Windham-grown Project Blackout was created 12 years ago.

Dedicated to raising pediatric cancer awareness in New England communities through grassroots events and athletics, Project Blackout expands yearly. This year, the project spans five communities in New Hampshire and Massachusetts with football games already taking place between Pelham vs. John Stark, Bishop Guertin vs. Nashua North, and Malden Catholic (Mass.) vs. North Quincy (Mass.).

Windham and Londonderry now wrap up the 2023 campaign, with proceeds from Windham’s weeklong Blackout activities supporting pediatric cancer research at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth and a designated fund at Windham’s Helping Hands to help local children with cancer and their families.

Families like Project Blackout Committee Member Krissy Michaud, whose daughter Emma died from a rare brain tumor.

“It is incredibly moving to see so many people, and especially young kids, come together to make a difference in the push for pediatric cancer awareness and the lives of local families,” she said. “Babies should not have to battle cancer. Our fight will not be over until there is a cure.”

Project Blackout games across the region unite athletes, school communities and their towns to reach thousands of people each year and build awareness of New England’s high rate of pediatric cancer while honoring local families, like the Michauds, affected by pediatric cancer through special half-time ceremonies, game-day events and more.

As schools grow their Blackout effort, additional athletic teams, youth sports organizations and local businesses also host a variety of fundraising and awareness events.

Project Blackout Board Member and Malden Catholic Athletic Director Bill Raycraft thinks high school athletics is the perfect fit to raise awareness.

“Every year, participating schools and teams rally behind Blackout activities,” said Raycraft, who was also the football coach and AD at Windham. “Watching kids breakout their throwback Blackout T-shirts throughout the month of September for childhood cancer awareness and then come together with friends, neighbors, teachers and community members all sporting their 2023 Blackout T-shirts at the games creates a powerful atmosphere of unity and hope. Together, we honor everyone in the fight for a cure for childhood cancers.”

Byrne couldn’t agree more. This night is about more than how many yards and touchdowns Jaguars senior star running back Tiger An will rush for, or how well the senior quarterback duo of Conor Williams and Cam Brutus can march the Lancers down the field.

“Look, these are two good football teams that are taking the field against each other this week,” Byrne said. “The longer I coach, the more I like to watch kids rise above. I think anyone at this game will see that on both sidelines and on the field, but I think everyone in attendance will be doing their part as well.

“Both teams come in looking to bounce back from losses to tough teams. But that’s nothing compared to the losses that Blackout Project is bringing awareness to. We’re all just trying to do our part to help raise that awareness and money through a sport we love.”