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some of my fondest memories come from this great rivalry. I thought I would post a few and hopefully get to hear all of yours...from both sides of the ball. so here goes:
1973 Freshman year, we went undefeated but tied Bellaire in the first game of the year, and we shared the league title. As a reward, we got to dress for the Reserve game (at least 7 of us started in the Reserve game against Bellaire's reserves) and we got to dress for the varsity game. I remember it was bitter cold, and we lost, but it was a great thrill especially since it was at "sun drenched Nelson Field".
1975 Junior year again at "SDNF", it was a very good ballgame. Bellaire was undefeated with the only blemish being a tie (who?). We had a chance on a last ditch pass to our tight end Tom Thomas that just went off his hands.
1976 Senior year at MF. My record against Bellaire going into this game was 0-4-1, including an 8th grade loss, a frosh tie, a reserve loss as a frosh, and a loss as a soph and junior. We had come out of the gate fast early in the season, going 5-1 before going 1-2 the three games prior to Bellaire. We had been in the playoff hunt till those two losses but were now out of the playoff picture (back then, there were only 3 classes/divisions with only one playoff rep per region, so only 12 teams statewide made the playoffs). so the only thing left to play for was pride and my class's first win over Bellaire, and only the second win over Bellaire in 12 years. For many of us on both sides of the ball, it was bittersweet because it was the last time we would ever "strap 'em on". Bellaire had had some tough losses and was 5-4 going into the game. It was hard fought and a close game, but I think the final was 15-7 and we finally got the monkey off our backs. This obviously was one of my favorite memories of all times.
1978 in MF was the year that Sam Zavatsky, a starting tackle and #1 kicker for MF, was on the sidelines in street clothes due to an injury. The fog was rolling in off the river and Ferry was making a last ditch drive to go for a game winning FG. Sam ran to the locker room to get changed so he could kick. He ran out of the locker room just in time for the kick...and missed it.
1979 was the year MF went undefeated by scoring on the final play of the game at Bellaire. The ensuing celebration/mayhem, was epic with the whole downtown of MF just being one huge party till late into the night. this was the first undefeated season in over 15 years, at least 10 of which were just god awful for the Ferry faithful.
Since I was not on the teams of 78 or 79, I hope some others will relate their first hand memories. And, as stated, these are my favorite memories from my perspective as a Purple Rider. I am hoping some non-partisan folks will even post their memories as well.
good luck to both the Purple Riders and Big Reds.
1973 Freshman year, we went undefeated but tied Bellaire in the first game of the year, and we shared the league title. As a reward, we got to dress for the Reserve game (at least 7 of us started in the Reserve game against Bellaire's reserves) and we got to dress for the varsity game. I remember it was bitter cold, and we lost, but it was a great thrill especially since it was at "sun drenched Nelson Field".
1975 Junior year again at "SDNF", it was a very good ballgame. Bellaire was undefeated with the only blemish being a tie (who?). We had a chance on a last ditch pass to our tight end Tom Thomas that just went off his hands.
1976 Senior year at MF. My record against Bellaire going into this game was 0-4-1, including an 8th grade loss, a frosh tie, a reserve loss as a frosh, and a loss as a soph and junior. We had come out of the gate fast early in the season, going 5-1 before going 1-2 the three games prior to Bellaire. We had been in the playoff hunt till those two losses but were now out of the playoff picture (back then, there were only 3 classes/divisions with only one playoff rep per region, so only 12 teams statewide made the playoffs). so the only thing left to play for was pride and my class's first win over Bellaire, and only the second win over Bellaire in 12 years. For many of us on both sides of the ball, it was bittersweet because it was the last time we would ever "strap 'em on". Bellaire had had some tough losses and was 5-4 going into the game. It was hard fought and a close game, but I think the final was 15-7 and we finally got the monkey off our backs. This obviously was one of my favorite memories of all times.
1978 in MF was the year that Sam Zavatsky, a starting tackle and #1 kicker for MF, was on the sidelines in street clothes due to an injury. The fog was rolling in off the river and Ferry was making a last ditch drive to go for a game winning FG. Sam ran to the locker room to get changed so he could kick. He ran out of the locker room just in time for the kick...and missed it.
1979 was the year MF went undefeated by scoring on the final play of the game at Bellaire. The ensuing celebration/mayhem, was epic with the whole downtown of MF just being one huge party till late into the night. this was the first undefeated season in over 15 years, at least 10 of which were just god awful for the Ferry faithful.
Since I was not on the teams of 78 or 79, I hope some others will relate their first hand memories. And, as stated, these are my favorite memories from my perspective as a Purple Rider. I am hoping some non-partisan folks will even post their memories as well.
good luck to both the Purple Riders and Big Reds.
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