North Lenoir, South Lenoir prepare for 37th annual Braggin’ Bowl
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North Lenoir and South Lenoir will rekindle its rivalry Friday at 7 p.m. in La Grange for the 37th annual Braggin’ Bowl. Blue Devils’ coach Jeremy Joyner, right center, hopes to win his second straight Braggin’ Bowl with and stands next to, from left of Joyner, Erich Bluhm and Matt Turner. On the other side, Hawks coach Jim Collins is looking for his first Braggin’ Bowl victory and, from left, Filipo Sualevai and Chris Russell look to make an impact.
There’s a new trophy for a great rivalry.
The Swamp will be the destination for the 37th annual Braggin’ Bowl between North Lenoir and South Lenoir Friday, along with the 56th meeting between the two schools in football. The Hawks hold a 37-18 advantage in the series and 27-9 since it was called the Braggin’ Bowl — implemented by North Lenoir coach Doug Hill and South Lenoir coach Jimmy Smith in 1983 to add additional incentive — but the Blue Devils took the trophy to Deep Run after a 46-14 victory on Oct. 29, 2018.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The win by South Lenoir last year snapped an eight-game losing streak to its fiercest rival, and the team has hopes of keeping the new trophy in Deep Run. The schools agreed to split costs for another trophy — a silver bowl with years and victors engraved in comparison to last year’s bronze trophy, highlighted by a football from the other name of the contest: The Pigskin Classic.
“It’s a big game for our kids (and) our community, and it’s something we’re working for,” Blue Devils coach Jeremy Joyner said. “South Lenoir hasn’t repeated since the mid-90s in this game, so that’s something we’d like to do this Friday night. The kids have to come together, play hard, protect the football and match (North Lenoir’s) physicality for four quarters.”
The Blue Devils had a historic victory last season, with the most points a South Lenoir team posted against North Lenoir, along with its largest margin of victory. South Lenoir’s last winning streak in the rivalry was a four-game stretch from 1994 through 1997.
Blue Devils senior lineman Matt Turner said there’s always plenty of passion when it comes to facing the Hawks.
“This is the biggest game for us and it just means everything to get this,” Turner said.
Fellow senior lineman Erich Bluhm said the team wants to get a second straight win — for the seniors it’s a great way to end their careers and for the underclassmen a way to get even more excited for 2020.
“I think this game will really bring us together and help next year’s team start off right,” Bluhm said.
On the other end, North Lenoir coach Jim Collins said last year’s loss is in the rear-view mirror, especially with the South Lenoir game sparking a four-game, 11-day stretch due to Hurricane Florence.
“That’s a distant memory,” Collins said. “(For us to win, we have to practice) ball control, keep their offense of the field and do our job — that’s the bottom line.”
North Lenoir senior lineman Chris Russell said he wants to finish his final regular-season game off strong.
“I want to go out with a bang and getting that trophy back means everything to me,” Russell said. “If everybody does their job on offense and defense, no team can beat us.”
Hawks senior quarterback and defensive lineman Filipo Sualevai said he wants to win and then keep the trophy in La Grange for a long time.
The Blue Devils had a historic victory last season, with the most points a South Lenoir team posted against North Lenoir, along with its largest margin of victory. South Lenoir’s last winning streak in the rivalry was a four-game stretch from 1994 through 1997.
Blue Devils senior lineman Matt Turner said there’s always plenty of passion when it comes to facing the Hawks.
“This is the biggest game for us and it just means everything to get this,” Turner said.
Fellow senior lineman Erich Bluhm said the team wants to get a second straight win — for the seniors it’s a great way to end their careers and for the underclassmen a way to get even more excited for 2020.
“I think this game will really bring us together and help next year’s team start off right,” Bluhm said.
On the other end, North Lenoir coach Jim Collins said last year’s loss is in the rear-view mirror, especially with the South Lenoir game sparking a four-game, 11-day stretch due to Hurricane Florence.
“That’s a distant memory,” Collins said. “(For us to win, we have to practice) ball control, keep their offense of the field and do our job — that’s the bottom line.”
North Lenoir senior lineman Chris Russell said he wants to finish his final regular-season game off strong.
“I want to go out with a bang and getting that trophy back means everything to me,” Russell said. “If everybody does their job on offense and defense, no team can beat us.”
Hawks senior quarterback and defensive lineman Filipo Sualevai said he wants to win and then keep the trophy in La Grange for a long time.
“We have the mindset that we’re going to come, take it from them and keep it here for years to come,” Sualevai said. “I think we can.”
