The Pleasant Valley vs. Bettendorf game is one of the most highly anticipated football games in the state. Thousands of fans pack into the stands ready to watch some great football. Players and students alike were eager to face off against their cross-town rival Bettendorf. This year, however, the game looked a little different.
On Aug. 29, fans started packing in by the thousands, ready to watch an exciting game. Students started rushing into the stands, patiently awaiting some incredible football and loud noise. The band walked onto the field dressed up in their new uniforms ready to perform their pregame music for the crowd.
Suddenly, dark clouds appeared above and small rain droplets started falling, scattered around the field. Fear struck players and fans alike that the game was going to be canceled, but no one thought much of it. Then the fateful horn blew. D’anne Kroemer blew the horn, signaling that the game was postponed due to lightning striking very close to the stadium, leaving attendees distraught.
Players headed back to the locker room, fans reluctantly walked to their cars and the band went back into the auditorium. The players were very upset in the locker room because they were stripped of the opportunity to play in front of the biggest crowd of the season. Junior Arush Gunukula, a member of the varsity football team, was disappointed with the outcome. “Everyone was dejected and we were all awaiting the news that the game would start again,” Gunukula expressed.
The students who attended the game were also upset that the game was postponed. Sophomore Sashwat Choudhary was attending his first football game and was very excited due to the PV and Bettendorf rivalry. “I was really looking forward to the game and when it got postponed it was a very anti-climactic moment for me,” conveyed Choudhary.
Everyone was in fear of the game being canceled, waiting for the announcement about the state of the game happening at 8:45 p.m. Then the announcement came, the game was postponed to the next day, Saturday at 9 a.m.
Photographers missed out on opportunities to take quality pictures under the Friday night lights, and the game being moved to Saturday gave them another opportunity to do so. Junior Jack Belby was at the game to take pictures of the PV players when the storm hit and play was postponed. “I was excited to take pictures and watch some quality football when the storm hit, and the storm really angered me. At least with the game being moved to Saturday, I can take pictures again,” Belby stated.
The following morning, the game resumed, and the Spartans won 24-17. While the change in schedule affected the turnout, students still supported the team and celebrated the victory.
Though fans were initially disappointed by Friday’s postponement, they rallied together with unwavering school spirit, and their enthusiasm made Saturday’s hard-fought win even more rewarding to celebrate.
