Friday, November 8th, Hemet High added another chapter to a rivalry dating back to 1929. In a game at risk of being the last football game of the season, the Bulldogs brought back the highly desired victory bell, a big win, and a playoff spot in CIF for the first time since 2006. The Bulldogs won the big “Battle of the Bell” game against the San Jacinto Tigers, 41-37.
You thought our school’s rivalry was against West Valley? Think again. “Battle of the Bell” has always been a Hemet vs. San Jacinto tradition, dating all the way back to 1929. Hemet dominated the series until it was halted in 1967 due to division changes. In 2000, the schools renewed the rivalry, but Hemet managed to hold onto the coveted Victory Bell. In 2010, the Dawgs were forced to hand over the bell to San Jacinto High School and failed to regain it until now, when we are finally able to re-paint it it’s rightful colors: red and gold.
The night before the big game, the football team, band, and members of the student body gathered in the stadium parking lot for a college-style pep rally. There, Coach Reitz, former teacher and coach Forrest Thomas, Milano’s Owner Jeff Ender, and a few members of the team said a few words to generate some school spirit.
During the big night, the Tigers were the first to score a touchdown, but failed to score the first extra field-goal point. By halftime, the Bulldogs were down, 16-13. During halftime, the visitors mockingly rang the bell, thinking they had the win in the bag. The Tigers held a 10-point lead throughout most of the second half of the game, but the Dawgs wouldn’t allow it. After the band played their annual Stanford Show, this year Harry Potter themed, the intensity of the game rose. With one minute left, the home crowd was hopeful that the game wasn’t going to be lost by a mere three point lead. One player, Jefferey Martin, wouldn’t allow it. The Bulldogs were down 37-27 with 57 seconds left, but running back Jeff Martin provided a crucial touchdown. After recovering the ball with an onside kick, it was Martin again who scored the winning touchdown with 16 seconds to spare, sparking a celebration from students, parents, and Bulldogs everywhere. Jeff later said, “it was a great feeling, especially coming from not really being all that well known”. Well, he’s definitely well-known now!
The delight of the crowd sent everyone swarming first onto the field, then onto the visitor’s sideline in order to retrieve the hard-earned victory bell. Jeff said, “it was full of energy down there. Everyone was excited, coaches were crying. Even my dad, who doesn’t show a lot of emotion, was crying.” Linebacker Derek Peel, said “Both playoffs and winning the bell were big motivators. We won the game and we got the bell for Von Driska”. He later said, “We were just focused. We knew what we wanted and we got it.”
For all those seniors who witnessed the bell being relinquished to the Tigers their freshman year, it was definitely a bittersweet feeling to win it back their last year at Hemet High. The winning of the bell isn’t the only victory coming out of this game, but the Dawgs are also guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, a thought that would have seemed impossible within the last few years. The Dawgs play in their first playoff game on Friday, November 15th. What’s their mindset going into it? Jeff said, “We’re just going in knowing we have to tackle each game like it’s do or die, and this one actually is do or die.” Battle of the Bell was a night where students, parents and alumni renewed their Bulldog pride. November 8th was one for the books.
You thought our school’s rivalry was against West Valley? Think again. “Battle of the Bell” has always been a Hemet vs. San Jacinto tradition, dating all the way back to 1929. Hemet dominated the series until it was halted in 1967 due to division changes. In 2000, the schools renewed the rivalry, but Hemet managed to hold onto the coveted Victory Bell. In 2010, the Dawgs were forced to hand over the bell to San Jacinto High School and failed to regain it until now, when we are finally able to re-paint it it’s rightful colors: red and gold.
The night before the big game, the football team, band, and members of the student body gathered in the stadium parking lot for a college-style pep rally. There, Coach Reitz, former teacher and coach Forrest Thomas, Milano’s Owner Jeff Ender, and a few members of the team said a few words to generate some school spirit.
During the big night, the Tigers were the first to score a touchdown, but failed to score the first extra field-goal point. By halftime, the Bulldogs were down, 16-13. During halftime, the visitors mockingly rang the bell, thinking they had the win in the bag. The Tigers held a 10-point lead throughout most of the second half of the game, but the Dawgs wouldn’t allow it. After the band played their annual Stanford Show, this year Harry Potter themed, the intensity of the game rose. With one minute left, the home crowd was hopeful that the game wasn’t going to be lost by a mere three point lead. One player, Jefferey Martin, wouldn’t allow it. The Bulldogs were down 37-27 with 57 seconds left, but running back Jeff Martin provided a crucial touchdown. After recovering the ball with an onside kick, it was Martin again who scored the winning touchdown with 16 seconds to spare, sparking a celebration from students, parents, and Bulldogs everywhere. Jeff later said, “it was a great feeling, especially coming from not really being all that well known”. Well, he’s definitely well-known now!
The delight of the crowd sent everyone swarming first onto the field, then onto the visitor’s sideline in order to retrieve the hard-earned victory bell. Jeff said, “it was full of energy down there. Everyone was excited, coaches were crying. Even my dad, who doesn’t show a lot of emotion, was crying.” Linebacker Derek Peel, said “Both playoffs and winning the bell were big motivators. We won the game and we got the bell for Von Driska”. He later said, “We were just focused. We knew what we wanted and we got it.”
For all those seniors who witnessed the bell being relinquished to the Tigers their freshman year, it was definitely a bittersweet feeling to win it back their last year at Hemet High. The winning of the bell isn’t the only victory coming out of this game, but the Dawgs are also guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, a thought that would have seemed impossible within the last few years. The Dawgs play in their first playoff game on Friday, November 15th. What’s their mindset going into it? Jeff said, “We’re just going in knowing we have to tackle each game like it’s do or die, and this one actually is do or die.” Battle of the Bell was a night where students, parents and alumni renewed their Bulldog pride. November 8th was one for the books.