http://www.ocregister.com/articles/game-bell-valley-2639060-fountain-year
Edison, Fountain Valley to 'Battle for the Bell'
Four-decade football rivalry sparked ticket rush this year, prompting relocation of Friday's game to Cal State Fullerton.
By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER and STEVE FRYER
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Comments 0 | Recommend 2
It's Edison vs. Fountain Valley – who will get custody of the Bell?
The 8-0 Chargers take on the 8-0 Barons Friday night in the "Battle for the Bell.'' The winner will lay claim to the revered trophy bell used since 1975 to celebrate the intense rivalry, which dates back to the late 1960s.
This year's football game is considered one of the most anticipated games in years – tickets sold out in hours and the game had to be moved to Cal State Fullerton to accommodate the crowd, which quickly outgrew the 7,600-seat Orange Coast College venue. Some even paid up to $55 on the Internet to grab a seat.
Dave White, Edison's head coach, has attended every Edison vs. Fountain Valley game either as a spectator, player or coach since 1969. The bell was introduced as a token to the winner in 1975.
"It's fun for the community and fun for the students," he said. "It's probably the best public school rivalry going on in Orange County."
Both teams are undefeated and so far share the No. 1 spot in the Sunset League. Edison has won seven of nine of the last Bell games and is ranked No. 1 in the county and state and No. 3 in the nation, according to MaxPreps. Fountain Valley is ranked No. 4 in Orange County.
Last year's game was a nail-biter to the end, with Edison scoring in the last six minutes of the game to defeat the Barons 14-7. Fountain Valley is looking to reclaim the bell, which was last on the Barons' campus in 2004.
Fountain Valley High seniors Marki Webster, 17, and Kevin Clarke, 17, said this could be the year they see the Bell back on their campus.
"We really have a good chance," Webster said. "It's my senior year and last Bell game so I'm really making a big deal out of it."
"The game is going to be very close," Clarke added. "The rivalry being 8-0 and 8-0 is the first time that's happened since the 70s, I think."
However, students at Edison High said they aren't worried about losing the Bell.
"This is going to be the biggest game in years, but we've won the past five years," senior Dean Robbins, 17, said.
"Fountain Valley shouldn't even think about winning," junior Chris McKay, 17, chimed in. "There's no competition, but we'll find out."
The Chargers will look to slow down Fountain Valley's star running back, senior Kyle Middlebrooks, who has scored 23 touchdowns and rushed for 1,343 yards this season.
"We're going to have to play with about 14 guys on defense," White joked. "I don't know if we're going to stop him … we just need to slow him down."
But, White acknowledged, the Barons have more than one star player in their arsenal.
"They've got a quarterback who can run and throw, and a good receiver," he said. "They have a lot of weapons. We can't just focus on one thing."
Fountain Valley head coach John Shipp said a lot of the Barons' success this year can be attributed to players who can dominate both offensively and defensively.
"Our biggest strength is our probably the ability of our kids to play – we have a lot of guys who play both ways," Shipp said. "In terms of skill, our offensive and defensive lines have done a great job this year."
But Edison has weapons of its own to help defeat the Barons – a quick defense that may be a good match for Middlebrooks and a slew of players with a lot of playing time under their belts.
But this year's game has more at stake – the team that takes home the bell will be the team that can call themselves league champions.
"Both teams have a great chance – it's a very even game I think," White said. "We're both ranked high and we're both doing well right now. There's more at stake."
Shipp said he's also tried to keep his team level-headed in practices this week.
"Practice hasn't changed much throughout the course of the week," he said. "A lot is going on. There are more distractions so it's important that we stay focused.
But while the players look to stay even-keel on the field, the students, parents and fans are another story. This week is all about hype.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7953 or jfletcher@ocregister.com
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Edison, Fountain Valley to 'Battle for the Bell'
Four-decade football rivalry sparked ticket rush this year, prompting relocation of Friday's game to Cal State Fullerton.
By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER and STEVE FRYER
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Comments 0 | Recommend 2
It's Edison vs. Fountain Valley – who will get custody of the Bell?
The 8-0 Chargers take on the 8-0 Barons Friday night in the "Battle for the Bell.'' The winner will lay claim to the revered trophy bell used since 1975 to celebrate the intense rivalry, which dates back to the late 1960s.
This year's football game is considered one of the most anticipated games in years – tickets sold out in hours and the game had to be moved to Cal State Fullerton to accommodate the crowd, which quickly outgrew the 7,600-seat Orange Coast College venue. Some even paid up to $55 on the Internet to grab a seat.
Dave White, Edison's head coach, has attended every Edison vs. Fountain Valley game either as a spectator, player or coach since 1969. The bell was introduced as a token to the winner in 1975.
"It's fun for the community and fun for the students," he said. "It's probably the best public school rivalry going on in Orange County."
Both teams are undefeated and so far share the No. 1 spot in the Sunset League. Edison has won seven of nine of the last Bell games and is ranked No. 1 in the county and state and No. 3 in the nation, according to MaxPreps. Fountain Valley is ranked No. 4 in Orange County.
Last year's game was a nail-biter to the end, with Edison scoring in the last six minutes of the game to defeat the Barons 14-7. Fountain Valley is looking to reclaim the bell, which was last on the Barons' campus in 2004.
Fountain Valley High seniors Marki Webster, 17, and Kevin Clarke, 17, said this could be the year they see the Bell back on their campus.
"We really have a good chance," Webster said. "It's my senior year and last Bell game so I'm really making a big deal out of it."
"The game is going to be very close," Clarke added. "The rivalry being 8-0 and 8-0 is the first time that's happened since the 70s, I think."
However, students at Edison High said they aren't worried about losing the Bell.
"This is going to be the biggest game in years, but we've won the past five years," senior Dean Robbins, 17, said.
"Fountain Valley shouldn't even think about winning," junior Chris McKay, 17, chimed in. "There's no competition, but we'll find out."
The Chargers will look to slow down Fountain Valley's star running back, senior Kyle Middlebrooks, who has scored 23 touchdowns and rushed for 1,343 yards this season.
"We're going to have to play with about 14 guys on defense," White joked. "I don't know if we're going to stop him … we just need to slow him down."
But, White acknowledged, the Barons have more than one star player in their arsenal.
"They've got a quarterback who can run and throw, and a good receiver," he said. "They have a lot of weapons. We can't just focus on one thing."
Fountain Valley head coach John Shipp said a lot of the Barons' success this year can be attributed to players who can dominate both offensively and defensively.
"Our biggest strength is our probably the ability of our kids to play – we have a lot of guys who play both ways," Shipp said. "In terms of skill, our offensive and defensive lines have done a great job this year."
But Edison has weapons of its own to help defeat the Barons – a quick defense that may be a good match for Middlebrooks and a slew of players with a lot of playing time under their belts.
But this year's game has more at stake – the team that takes home the bell will be the team that can call themselves league champions.
"Both teams have a great chance – it's a very even game I think," White said. "We're both ranked high and we're both doing well right now. There's more at stake."
Shipp said he's also tried to keep his team level-headed in practices this week.
"Practice hasn't changed much throughout the course of the week," he said. "A lot is going on. There are more distractions so it's important that we stay focused.
But while the players look to stay even-keel on the field, the students, parents and fans are another story. This week is all about hype.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7953 or jfletcher@ocregister.com
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GO BARONS!!!!!!!!
THIS YEAR YOU DESERVE THE BELL. I HAVE BEEN A SUPPORTER OF FVHS BARONS SINCE I WAS IN HS (GRAD 1991) AND I WENT TO COSTA MESA HIGH SCHOOL :lolBIG:.
MY SON GRADUATED FROM FVHS AND MY DAUGHTER NOW ATTENDS FVHS. IF YOU ALL KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING SO FAR THIS YEAR, YOU WILL BRING BACK THE BELL.
REMEMBER:
T-ogether
E-veryone
A-chieves
M-ore
THIS YEAR YOU DESERVE THE BELL. I HAVE BEEN A SUPPORTER OF FVHS BARONS SINCE I WAS IN HS (GRAD 1991) AND I WENT TO COSTA MESA HIGH SCHOOL :lolBIG:.
MY SON GRADUATED FROM FVHS AND MY DAUGHTER NOW ATTENDS FVHS. IF YOU ALL KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING SO FAR THIS YEAR, YOU WILL BRING BACK THE BELL.
REMEMBER:
T-ogether
E-veryone
A-chieves
M-ore
