Cross-town rivals will face off once again in this celebrated annual duel.
Mohammed Ali vs. Joe Frazier, the New York Yankees vs. the Boston Red Sox, the Chicago Bears vs. the Green Bay Packers—historic rivalries are part of our culture. In Morgantown, the WVU Mountaineers face up against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the Backyard Brawl. And at the high school level, we have the Morgantown High School Mohigans versus the University High Hawks—the MoHawk Bowl. This year’s 74th MoHawk Bowl takes place at MHS’s Pony Lewis Field on Friday, November 1, at 7 p.m.
With two high schools in town, the match is a true cross-town rivalry, with all of the competitive energy and enthusiasm you’d expect from players, hometown fans, and rowdy student sections.
“The MoHawk Bowl is something that kids talk about all year,” says Adam Fox, MHS English teacher and sponsor of Mohigan Rowdie Society—the name for the student section as a whole—about the game’s notorious hype. “Both communities have so much pride. Even the students in the stands take it so personally that they don’t just want to win, but they want to be the loudest. A MoHawk win is a memory they will talk about for years.”
The MoHawk Bowl is a celebration of excellence, says MHS Athletic Director John Bowers. “It’s always a very good game.”
The fall 2024 season has produced records of 4–4 for UHS and 6–3 for MHS, so the teams are closely matched. The bands from both schools will perform at half-time and will also offer a pre-game surprise. Concessions for the game will include Chick-fil-A sandwiches, popcorn, soda, and candy.
The game costs $6 to enter, cash or credit. A stuffed animal drive for WVU Children’s hospital will take place, and fans are asked to bring new stuffed animals with the tags left on to be collected at the entrance gate. Buses will shuttle from Mountainview Elementary, South Middle School, and MTEC from 5 p.m. until the 7 p.m. kickoff, and the same shuttle will run post-game.
May the best team win!
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