Ahead of the Big Game

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Created on Friday, 16 October 2015 20:15

Written by NewsINK Contributer, Dylan Clark

AROUND THE NEK - This Saturday, October 17th, 2015 marks the 111th Edition of “The Game”. The annual football game between St. Johnsbury Academy and Lyndon Institute, which will be played at Lyndon Institute this year, coming off of a tough 46­0 loss to the Hilltoppers in last years contest.

A game that has been around since the Grover Cleveland administration has served as the highlight of the fall sports season for the towns of Lyndon and St. Johnsbury for over 110 years.

The historical context of this game cannot go easily unnoticed. Since its inception in 1894, which pitted the then St. Johnsbury junior varsity team against the Lyndon varsity squad, this annual contest has drawn quite the following. Spanning back multiple generations of players, coaches and all participants, this game has given these two communities something great to look forward to every fall. In the 110 games that have been previously played, St. Johnsbury Academy holds the lead at 66 wins to 44 losses and 6 ties along the way. In 2004 the Vermont State Senate recognized the 100th meeting between Lyndon and St. Johnsbury, congratulating the two institutions of continuing one of the best rivalries in all of high school football. Not to be outdone by all of the historical baggage this game carries, is the festivities that take place in the towns the night before the big game.

The night preceding the game, both communities come together to fire up both teams and fans, in hopes of bringing a little extra energy to the game. For St. Johnsbury Academy, this weekend will be their homecoming weekend. Friday October 16th, there will be a pep rally parade held at 7 PM, followed by a bonfire and pizza party. Not to be outdone by the Lyndon community, who in the past have held community wide pep rallies, with the same goal in mind which is getting both the players and fans to bring energy to the contest.

This contest is special for all who are involved, however it’s the players who feel this game means the most. 2014 Lyndon Institute Alum Davis Guyer, who has played in this rivalry 4 times throughout his high school career shed some insight into what this game means. “I remember growing up and always being at the game to cheer on my cousins, not really realizing how special the game was. Then it became my turn to play, and I understood what that feeling was. Having 3,000 fans filling the sidelines in both maroon and green, and knowing that they were all there to cheer you on, it was a surreal feeling.” Very seldom do high school athletes get to experience this type of atmosphere and roller coaster of emotions. For these two schools, the players come into every season preparing for this game, and the feelings that coincide. “Football practice was intense”, states Guyer, “There was no room for error and we had to give everything we had in practice.” All of that preparation and sweat shed on the practice field then leads to “The Game”. “The Super Bowl for Vermont”, says Guyer. Accurate name for the largest crowd drawn by a high school competition in the state of Vermont. 3,000­5,000 people surround the field, whether on the campus of Lyndon or St. Johnsbury to watch history be made in front of them. Current team records are discarded for this game, as once again this is the game they focus all year on. “You could go in 1­7 and the other team be 7­1 and the underdogs would win. The game comes down to who wants it more.” Says Guyer. This Saturday in the 111th battle between these two football teams, we shall see who wants it more.