Colored powder in the air, ribbons in your hair, get the body paint ready kids…IT’S RIVALRY WEEK.
On one side of the field, a stream of white “Beat OC” shirts floods through the gates, on the other side a mob of pink, stands high and mighty, chanting because this is our house.
The most anticipated sports event of the year was the OHS vs. Mountain Ridge football game. Compared to every other game, this game brings in the highest revenue.
After this past season, some might say that the tension created from the rivalry has crossed a boundary–I beg to differ.
This year the OHS football team had the best record since I started high school, which made the rivalry game all that more exciting.
The competition between the two schools is completely healthy and all in good fun. The students enjoy it and it increases school spirit.
This year was the first time we had a spirit week themed around the game. This was Stugo’s attempt to increase spirit and excitement to support our football team under those “Friday Night Lights.”
The spirit week provided the students who didn’t participate in homecoming spirit, a second chance to have fun and dress up with the rest of the school.
Participation in spirit may not seem important on the outside, but it is highly appreciated by the players on the team.
There are many pros that come with having a rival school. If the game is home then our athletic department has the advantage of using the profits where they deem it necessary, benefitting all sports.
When it comes to Ridge, OHS comes together as a family to defend our home. It is one of those few times when we all rise above cliques and stereotypes and the campus fuses together.
Sure there are a few bad apples that take it too far, but they do not represent how the rest of us feel.
In reality, we are all friends.