SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Friday night marks one of the biggest rivalry games in Lackawanna County, the Bell Game!
It's the annual match-up between West Scranton and Scranton high schools.
The Bell Game will always be the rivalry in Scranton, but don't let that Knights-Invaders matchup fool you, students and players on both sides know each other well, making it the game of the season for them.
For the students and staff of West Scranton and Scranton high schools, the Bell Game is more than just a football game; it's tradition, and it's all about pride.
"It's really memorable coming from a freshman to a senior you definitely see how much The Bell Game means to you and your graduating class and just see how memorable it is to be here and have a friendly competition," said Scranton High School Senior Makayla Webb.
"It feels really nice like being a part of something with the school, and everyone just comes together and it's like a great thing for everybody I feel like," said West Scranton High School Senior Gianna Fratzola.
Out of all the games of the season, this is one students and staff look forward to the most.
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"We're excited for tomorrow we have a big pep rally that we're gonna celebrate the football players, celebrate the band, everybody just working hard towards this big game, the favorite game of the season honestly," said Emma Kearney, a senior at Scranton High School.
"It's a game I've been looking forward to since the off-season started last year," said West Scranton High School Senior Mathias Gongo.
Despite the fun competitive nature of the game, both schools agree that at its core, it brings the entire district together.
"This week we're not friends with the Invaders but at the end of the day we're all a family we're all from Scranton," Webb explained.
"That's the whole goal, bring the community together bring everyone out, you know it is West verses Scranton but at the end of the day we're one city and we're one district and you know we're just excited to be part of this and bring our community out," said West Scranton High School Principle Renee Stevens.
Scranton High School has brought home the bell the past five games.
We will find out Friday if that streak continues or if West Scranton will steal it back.
