Akron, OH - Bring on the tail-gating, cookouts, face painting, crowd cheering, pep rallies, halftime showdowns, hometown pride and mud-slinging battles in the trenches. High school football is back on the field for a new season, and for the third time, the Great American Rivalry Series—presented by United States Marine Corps—travels to Ohio to cover the action. On Friday, August 31st, at 7:00pm, longtime county rivals the St. Vincent-St. Mary Fighting Irish and the will take the field for week two of the 2012 Great American Rivalry Series. Upwards of 6,000 fans are expected to come out and pack the Green Street Stadium stands to witness Ohio high school football at its best.
The St. Vincent-St. Mary, Walsh Jesuit game is one of many must-see match ups selected for the Marine-sponsored 2012 Rivalry Series. With ten miles separating the two campuses, the rivals battle for the right to possess “The Bell” and the accompanying bragging rights for the given year. This tradition rich, annual rumble dates back to 1969 with Walsh Jesuit leading the series in victories 21-15. Last year’s battle was an offensive explosion as the teams combined for 927 yards of offense. SVSM ended up winning 48-46. Of the seven state championships that belong to the schools of Summit County, STVM and Walsh Jesuit account for five of them, making this one of the must-see rivalries in Ohio.
The winning team not only earns bragging rights but also the coveted Great American Rivalry Series Champion trophy, presented on field by a United States Marine. The game’s Most Valuable Player is also named by media in attendance, and the Series awards a top student-athlete from each school with a college scholarship.
For many seniors, this may be the last big game of their high school athletic careers and the climax of their “Glory Days.” But for two alumni the spotlight will shine again as they are inducted into the Great American Rivalry Series Hall of Fame during a halftime ceremony, honoring their past performance in this historic rivalry.
“We are excited to partner once again with the Great American Rivalry Series,” said Leroy Pennington, Marketing Specialist AC/S Recruiting United States Marine Corps Eastern Recruiting Region, Parris Island, SC. “The elite status of this Series fits perfectly with the Elite Warrior brand of the Marine Corps and we are proud to stand alongside these outstanding young athletes.”
The Great American Rivalry Series emerged from a desire to celebrate the cultural phenomenon of Friday night high school football. The Series shines a spotlight on classic gridiron clashes where expectations are sky high and die-hard fans abound.
For more information, contact 859-225-3399 or visit www.greatamericanrivalry.com.
