BACKYARD BRAWL BUZZ

Bellwood-Antis Is Hyped for the Annual Rivalry Game

Emily Wagner, Photo Editor/Staff Writer|August 29, 2014

Emily Wagner

Girls from Blue Devil Nation, B-A’s student cheering section, are all decked out for the Backyard Brawl tonight at Tyrone. Pictured above are, front row (l to r): Kelly Leamer, Alayna Roberts, Ana Hollen, Paige Padula and Hannah Cherry; back row (l to r): Selena Daminao, Lexi Crucial, Natalie Dumin, Anna Wolfe and Rachel Harris.

Back in October of 1897, Benjamin Rich, a twenty-two year old, from Tyrone, died in a Bellwood-Tyrone football game, thus starting the Backyard Brawl.  But it didn’t happen right away.  After Tyrone banned football for twenty-four years, things picked back up in 1921.

It’s a sad and important story, but that’s not what brings around 6,000 fans from either school each year to the game.

The excitement, the shirts, the game, basically everything leads to the buzz that’s going on this week for Friday night at Tyrone andthe Backyard Brawl.

“There’s a lot of excitement in the beginning of the game, the adrenaline allows people to make more mistakes because they have all of that excitement going,” said Mr. Lovrich, a high school gym teacher and Blue Devil coach.

Paige Padula, a senior at B-A, agrees with what Mr. Lovrich said. “I just think that there’s a lot of hype because it’s the first game of the season and everyone is just super excited to start off the football season.”

“People really like to come and watch the Backyard Brawl and it’s a really good game,” said Phoebe Potter, a sophomore at BA.

This isn’t just something that’s between two schools, oh no, it’s between the two towns, as well.  This one night is so special that the Tyrone Daily Herald hosts a contest for the citizens that show the best school spirit through their porch decorations for the Backyard Brawl.

Now, what makes this night so exciting compared to the rest of the Football Fridays?

Makayla Carles and Abbey Luennsman hang signs in the high school to pep up the Blue Devils for the big game.
Makayla Carles and Abbey Luennsman hang signs in the high school to pep up the Blue Devils for the big game.
High school English teacher Mrs. Zong was Blue Devil Nation from head to toe on game day.
High school English teacher Mrs. Zong was Blue Devils Nation from head to toe on game day.

“We’re two towns, just five minutes from each other that have some history with each other, whether that would be with sports related or non-sports related interests,” senior Zach Mock chimed in.  “It’s kind of scary being a senior because there’s no ‘maybe next year.’ We have to win it this year because the seniors are never going to face Tyrone in football again.”

Since it’s the seniors’ last Backyard Brawl, it’s exciting because, “it’s my senior year and I’ve watched these guys grow up on the field and I’m ready for their victory,” said senior Hannah Cherry.