WHITEHALL, Mich. (WOOD) — Friday night was the big game for cross-town rivals Whitehall and Montague, who battled it out for an unconventional trophy.
Battle for the Bell is a tradition dating back to 1906, making it one of the oldest rivalry games in the state. Neighboring towns Whitehall and Montague cross the bridge over White Lake to come together and play each other in hopes to win the hundred-pound bell, which is painted half red, half blue. The tradition is so old that nobody seems to know exactly why the trophy is shaped like a bell.
“It’s something that our kids see on a daily basis, it’s really about embracing the tradition, embracing the rivalry and its real simple: What are you doing on a daily basis to get better and earn the bell for the next year?” explained Whitehall Head Coach Tony Sigmon.
This Friday, it was Montague’s turn to take the trip across to Whitehall. They were looking to bring the bell back to their side of the river after Whitehall beat them last year.
“This is definitely the biggest game of the season — that and the state championship. We know all the kids on the Whitehall side, they all know us. It’s all on this game … we really wanna win, we’re working really hard to win,” said Silas Jancek, a linebacker for Montague.
At the end of the night, Whitehall beat Montague 60-6, bringing the bell back home with them.
