Nick Wilkinson
Sports Editor

I’ve been waiting since the first grade to play under those Friday night lights in the purple and gold jerseys against my hometown rival Bellevue East. Throughout the years, I watched every East-West football game that was played. Every game that went by made me hunger to be on the field in front of all those people.

Around the same time in early August, far enough in the school year to be comfortable with everybody but not late enough to have seen the Bellevue East, Bellevue West rivalry football game that was usually played in late August, we were sitting at the lunch table in the Birchcrest elementary gymnasium. I am not quite sure on who was there, all I knew is: I was there, and Bellevue East’s head coach’s son was sitting diagonal from me discussing the game.

This was the first time I ever heard about the game that would soon change my life. I grew up never knowing what exactly football was; my family was more baseball oriented. The coach’s son, Trev Lovell, explained the East-West rivalry to the group around him (in a completely bias way). He was boasting about how his dad was head coach, and how he would be the starting quarterback someday.

Well, to be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of Trev — he and I were polar opposites. He was popular and I kept to myself a lot; maybe it was envy.

Ten years later, here I am, recently promoted to the Varsity roster with the East-West game three days away. Trev was right; he’s the starting quarterback under his father’s team.

It’s so strange how things work out, somehow I knew this day was going to come. My friends and I spent every single year in the stands cheering for West, or running around playing games with my friends while the game clock winded down.

Saturday night, six days before the game, I was nervous as if I was about to step on the field. The only thing I can think of is the sound, the lights and the wave of purple set out upon Bellevue for one night a year.

Trev and I have known eachother for years, to be part of this tradition is an honor for us and every Bellevue football player since the 70’s. Being a little kid and seeing hometown heroes like Thunderbird or Chieftain football players is unlike any other, besides actually being one of them. We respect each other but if either of us lose this game, it will seem like it’s our fault.

I hope we win, or I’m not coming out of my room all weekend.