The winner of the USC vs. UCLA rivalry football game gets the Victory Bell.
The winner of the University of Las Vegas vs. University of Nevada rivalry football game gets a historic 545 pound cannon, the heaviest rivalry trophy in college sports.
The winner of the Centennial High School vs. Central High School in Colorado rivalry football game gets the coveted railroad bell mounted on a wheeled cart.
And for the first time in the Sunny Hills vs. Troy football game series history, the Lancers took home the silver crest with the logos of both schools on each side after beating the Warriors 22-20, Friday, Oct. 15, a matchup at Buena Park High School stadium.
Members of the Sunny Hills ASB executive cabinet created this event this year in order to foster school spirit and start a long-standing tradition of friendly competition.
“I’m really excited for this game to happen because I think that it’ll create a bigger turnout every year and it’s just fun to have everybody get together and enjoy the game,” ASB vice president Ellen Kim said.
The shield, which was ordered from a company in India, will be presented to the winning school by the Troy and Sunny Hills High School principals in a ceremony on the field.
One main condition that administrators applied to this challenge between the two schools is that both sides must keep the rivalry friendly.
“We agreed to include a clause in the constitution for the event [which both school’s ASB signed] stating that it’d be canceled if there’s any negativity,”Kim said. “ASB and all students will do their best to maintain a positive environment.”
Billed by the ASBs from both schools as the “Battle of the Nations,” the Spirit Weeks leading up to the game were also meant to elevate interest in the game, which also happens to be Sunny Hills’ homecoming queen announcement which will occur at half time.
Sunny Hills featured days like “Press Snooze on Troy” where students dress out in pajamas, while Troy encouraged students to “Des-Troy Sunny Hills” by wearing its school colors.
“This is the start of a tradition we hope continues for years to come,” ASB treasurer senior Isabella Ramos said.
Sunny Hills head football coach Peter Karavedas said the battle on the field for the crest will not bring added pressure on his players to win.
“I think it’s a great thing anytime you can get great local rivalries — that’s what high school football is all about,” Karavedas said. “It should be a very tough battle on Friday night.”
Other players on the team also share their coach’s assessment of what’s at stake in the game.
“As a team, of course, we are excited to go up against Troy, and our players definitely have stepped out and executed our plays on a different level,” football linebacker senior Alexander Cho said. “We don’t feel extra pressure because we have refined and perfected our plays offensively and defensively, which we are ready to execute tonight.”
With a Lancer victory, Sunny Hills will remain in contention for second place in the Freeway League after losing to La Habra two weeks ago during a home Freeway League opener.
