When the undefeated Oswego and Oswego East high school football teams meet Friday night, district bragging rights and, possibly, a grilled cheese sandwich will be on the line.
Community Unit School District 308’s two high school principals have laid down their challenges. Students are gearing up for the sold-out game. And at least one district junior high school has picked its side.
Both the Oswego and Oswego East football teams will enter the game at 5-0. By both principals’ accounts, the 12-year-old Oswego East has not won a varsity crosstown game.
But Scott Savage, Oswego East principal, and Mike Wayne, Oswego High School principal, said the game is an opportunity to bring the community together. The district is collecting donations at the gate for a food drive, and beforehand the high schools are holding a competition to collect donations, Savage said.
He said students at both schools have bought crosstown T-shirts, and the schools are planning to recognize law enforcement as honorary co-captains at the game.
At Oswego East, students have been decked out in spirit wear and prepping for the game throughout the week, he said.
Oswego High School is taking a more subdued approach. The coach wants to keep his players grounded and focus on the team’s long-term goal of making the playoffs, going deep in the playoffs and possibly competing for a state championship, Wayne said. Still, he said, there is a “buzz” in the school.
“I guarantee you that Panther Nation will be fired up and ready to go tomorrow night,” he said.
The district, too, is getting ready for the game.
Murphy Junior High School announced Thursday on Twitter its support for Oswego East. The school feeds into East, Principal Brent Anderson said.
District Superintendent John Sparlin diplomatically remained neutral.
“They are both great teams, and it should be a lot of fun,” he said in an email. “My prediction is that it will be a close game and it will come down to which team makes the fewest errors.”
But Savage has a good feeling about the 12th matchup between the two schools. Twelve has always been a special number for him.
He had reached out to Wayne about placing a bet but hadn’t heard back. Wayne must be “a little nervous,” he said.
So he is publicly placing a bet with Wayne: The losing team’s principal must make the winner’s a grilled cheese sandwich, wearing the winning team’s mascot outfit.
Wayne, for his part, said he would take Savage up on the sandwich portion of the bet.
“I like grilled cheese sandwiches,” he said. “If he wants to make me a grilled cheese sandwich, that would be fine.”
Ultimately, both principals said, the rivalry is friendly and respectful. Students at both schools tend to know each other, and many have grown up together. The game is about the community, they said.
The crosstown game is Friday at Oswego East High School. The sophomore game will begin at 4:30 p.m., and the varsity game will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are sold out.
Twitter @srfreish
