By Brock Donaldson
Lamp staff
Sports have been a big component of American society for generations. Families bond, friendships are formed and people even get engaged at sporting events.
But one thing that often pulls the community together: rivalries.
There are the Bears vs. the Packers, the Cubs vs. the Cardinals, and Golden State vs. Cleveland.
While those capture large audiences, the rivalries in high school sports can dominate small communities. Only two weeks into the fall high school football season, and one of the biggest undisputed rivalries in Sangamon football was lining up: the Auburn Trojans taking on its nemesis the Williamsville Bullets.
News Channel 20 interviewed players, students and other every day in the lead up to the Sept. 2 game. The TV station even broadcast the game that Friday night.
“It is the biggest game of the year, and it is always enjoyable to come support former teammates” said Scott McDermand, a 2015 Auburn graduate and current Lincoln Land student.
When the first whistle blew, it was anyone’s game, but at the end of the first quarter, the Bullets were up 7-0.
The second quarter did not see much change when the Bullets scored again to make it 14-0. Then, the Trojans made a 78-yard drive and ending with Auburn quarterback Ben Johnson scoring a touchdown, making it 14-7.
After that, with 33 seconds left before half-time, Auburn kicker Josh Johnson hit a field goal to make the game 14-10.
Coming out into the second half, Auburn would make it 13-22. Things were looking good for the Trojans until the fourth quarter when a huge pass slipped by the defense ending in a Bullets touchdown. Finally, a fumble by the Trojans sealed the team’s fate, ending the game 29-22 Williamsville.
“We made a few mistakes that cost us big time,” said Auburn player Evan Grim. “But all we can do now is learn from it and focus on the season ahead.”
Brock Donaldson can be reached at [email protected].
