North and South

            Excitement fills the air as students from both the North and South fill the stands. Sitting here at the north forty-five yard line, there is a great view of the field. The North Band, The Spirit, plays to rally their players. Our own students pack themselves in as close as they can before the game begins. Some of them look as if they have been drinking before the game. Everyone is rowdy, ready for the excitement of this major game. This is the 105^th meeting between our two teams.

            South students boo and jeer at the North team as they take the field. The Spirit try to block us out. I don’t think it is working. Our band takes the field and the students of the South cheer. The Pride is the pride of our school. Down below, flags wave. The fight song of our school begins and kicks off a pregame show by the Pride.

            The show begins with the playing of the National Anthem, as always happens. As the band reaches the lines “And the rockets’ red glare”, red fireworks are shot into the sky. It is a first as far as I know. After the Anthem has ended, our mascot takes the field with the band playing Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love”.

            Screams and cheers as our teams takes to the field. They are followed by boos and jeers from the Southern students as the Northern team takes the field. The Spirit cannot drown them out.

            Kickoff! The game has begun. North has the ball and cheers sound for our defense. The South cheers as we intercept a North pass and give them a third down.

            South ball. The stands continued to be filled, packed with students from both sides.

            Sudden cheers as we get a First and Ten. Energy is high as our team moves up the field. Cheers follow every complete pass we make. Every good play our team makes earns a cheer. But will this keep up if our team suddenly takes a turn for the worst?

            Cheers turn to groans as an incomplete to the end-zone occurs before our eyes. Shouts of rage as North intercepts South.

            I think some of these students are drunk. I keep smelling alcohol as they pass me.

            Our students cheer as the offense, the North, receives a penalty and cheers sound to rally the defense. More cheers as the North gets another Third down and we sound off cowbells to make noise. To mess with the head of the Northerners. North punts. Cheers echo from the southern students as they miss.

            Score is 0-0 with three minutes left in the first quarter. A familiar chant fills the air behind me.

            Boos as the most recent flag is against us. But is it the team or the ref as some Southern students are believing.

            It is our turn to punt. Talk fills the air around me. Fans of both schools pack the stands. Though, I think are students are by far the loudest. I feel like a sardine. So many want to be in the stands that they are jumping the wall behind me to get in.

            Cheers as we cause an incomplete pass. We have an incredible defense. Another cowbell call sounds. Wrathful shouts fill the air as the first touchdown of the game is made by the North. We have gotten a First and Ten, but tempers are beginning to rise. Chants sound to rally our team. End of First Quarter, score: 0-7 North.

            Plans are laid for our famous chant against our longtime rivals. It doesn’t have the desired effect.

            Deafening cheers as we get a touchdown. The fight song plays. Fountain fireworks go off on the north end of the field. The canon sounds. I am nearly knocked off my perch, a bleacher, by on the seemingly drunk.

            The announcer calls us to our feet. But we’re already there. Noise for cowbell. I can’t help but wonder if there is going to be a fight.

            North touchdown blocked. 8:19 left in the half. Not for long. Rage again fills the air.

            Something I really find interesting is that our band and cheer team will take a knee for any injured player. But the other band won’t, even if the injured player is their own.

            I think I safely say that the drunk students have the most “school spirit”.

            Above me, I briefly hear North fans, but they are drowned out by the students around me. Boos from the North, cheers from the South.

            Fight song, canon, fountain. We got another touchdown. 14-14 with four minutes left in the half. Cheers for our wonder dog.

            Cheers from the North as they score another touchdown. The chants rises to the air. More cheers and rage at the intercept. 14-21 North at the half.

            The rivalry between schools is not limited to the teams. As The Spirit takes the field, they area booed. Cheers fill the air as The Pride takes their place.

            End of half time show and a majority of the students and fans are still here. No longer feeling like a sardine, I think that the second half will be the same as the first.

            A flag does not dampen the spirit of the South. Touchdown! 28-24 South! The score moves to 35-31 with 4:41 left in the game. Final score, 35-38 North.

            At the end of this half, feelings and emotions, and drunkenness, are the same as when the game started. Southern students are a little disheartened by the outcome, but I doubt that is going to stop them from celebrating. We made it a close game and lost by a field goal. I will say one thing. The actions of the students here are much different than those of the students at the Coffee Shop.