WATERVILLE — The Jabar family saw the game on the Yarmouth High football schedule — Yarmouth at Waterville — and a family catchphrase was created.

Blood is thicker than Waterville.

Jackson Jabar is a junior wide receiver for Yarmouth, and a very good one. His father, Jason Jabar, was a standout player for Waterville in his day, a finalist for the Fitzpatrick Trophy in 1991 after throwing for 1,024 yards and seven touchdowns and running for 865 yards and 10 more scores.

On any other day, against any other team, the Jabars would’ve been cheering on their hometown Purple Panthers. The family’s ties to Waterville football go back more than a century, to when Jackson’s great grandfather, George Jabar, played for the team in the 1920s.

Saturday was the first time a Jabar played against rather than for the Panthers. It hadn’t happened in the more than 100-year football history of Jabars. But remember, blood is thicker than Waterville.

Saturday afternoon, Purple Panthers gear was traded for Yarmouth blue. Joe Jabar, Jackson’s grandfather and a former state Supreme Court justice, sat in the top row of the Drummond Field bleachers in his Yarmouth sweatshirt and baseball cap, and watched his grandson and the Clippers roll to a 70-26 win.

“I know it’s strange. I’ve been a Waterville fan all my life,” he said.

Jackson was a big reason why the Clippers took control early. His 9-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter came one play after he had a 30-yard catch and run, evading tacklers as he dashed from the left sideline to the right, using the entire field before he was finally dragged down inside the 10.

Jabar added a 35-yard fumble recovery for a score, then touchdown catches of 47, 59 and 5 yards.

“It feels kind of weird. Waterville was a powerhouse back in the day,” Jackson said. “It was nice though. He was showing me around.”

Jackson was referring to his father, an assistant coach for Yarmouth. Jason scored plenty of touchdowns at Drummond Field. What was the home sideline back when he played more than 30 years ago is now the visitors’ sideline, so Jason felt right at home. After the game, he briefly caught up with Mike Hamel, a Waterville assistant coach and former teammate who won the Fitzpatrick Trophy in 1993.

“I have very fond memories of playing here,” Jason said.

George Jabar played football for Waterville and graduated in 1922. His six sons also played football for the Panthers: Herb, Norm, John, Tony and Paul played in the 1940s. Joe wore a Waterville helmet in the 1960s.

George’s grandchildren started playing for the Panthers in the ’70s, into the 80’s, and ended with Jason, Class of 1992. Great grandsons Anthony Jabar, a 2005 graduate, and Dylan Veilleux, class of 2004, also were Waterville football players.

The family got together for a pregame tailgate at Joe Jabar’s house. Joe Jr., Jason’s older brother, spoke for the entire clan.

“On 364 other days a year, I root for Waterville,” he said. “Not today.”

Waterville and Yarmouth met in the eight-man Large School state championship game in 2022, which Yarmouth won, 30-26, after mounting a late fourth-quarter drive to take the lead. Jackson was in junior high then, not yet a member of the team, so the ties between family and community weren’t stretched.

Joe Sr. was less interested in reminiscing and more interested in watching his grandson play. After Jackson’s first catch of the game, Joe noted how his skill set is suited to Yarmouth’s wide-open offense.

“He’s so lucky to be a receiver on a team that loves to throw,” he said.

When he came off the field, Jackson was greeted by dozens of family members. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were all there to congratulate him on playing well in the game, a homecoming of sorts. The five touchdowns gave Jackson 11 this season. The Clippers have won six in a row since a season-opening loss to Mt. Ararat and are in the mix for the top spot in the upcoming eight-man Large School South playoffs.

With the game over, the Yarmouth sweatshirts and caps could come off. Until the next game.