By Staff reports
LAKEPORT ? Clear Lake High in Lakeport vs. Kelseyville High has been one of the most celebrated rivalries in the North Bay for decades. While the winner of the football game always gets bragging rights for the year, there has not been a perpetual trophy that resides at the victorious school until the next time they meet, such as is the case with other rivalries. Stanford and Cal have the Stanford Ax, Miami and Florida State have the Flordia Cup, Penn State and Minnesota have the Governor”s Victory Bell, but Clear Lake and Kelseyville have never had a physical trophy for bragging rights until now.
When the Kelseyville Varsity steps onto the field to play Clear Lake High this Friday night, it will mark the beginning of a new tradition: The “Bass Bowl.” In addition to bragging rights, the winner of the Bass Bowl will receive a perpetual trophy of a carved wood bass to hold until the next meeting between the two schools.
The Bass Bowl is the brain child of Kelseyville varsity coach Rob Ishihara and Boone Bridges, both alumni of Kelseyville High. Ishihara played in four rivalry games in the 90s, winning two of them as Kelseyville”s starting quarterback. “If we had something like this to play for back when I was playing, it would have only added more emphasis on winning the big game,” Ishihara said. “When I took the job I was told if I only win one game my first year, I needed to beat Clear Lake. No matter what each team”s record is each year, this game is always a big one for both teams. Both Coach Schweitzer and I agreed that the rivalry needed something to symbolize the bragging rights that come with winning the big game. This should spice it up and make it more fun for the players and the fans.”
If the idea takes hold, the Bass Bowl might eventually warrant a parade, local sponsorship, and more community support.
Clear Lake comes in the game struggling at 0-2 and Kelseyville enters at 1-1, letting a game slip away against Hamilton City, and rebounding to defeat Cloverdale last week. “This will be Clear Lake”s first home game, so they will be pumped and ready to play,” Ishihara said. “In a game like this anything can happen and we cannot afford to make some of the mistakes we have in our first two games.”
The JV game starts at 5:30 p.m., with the Varsity game starting 20 minutes after the JV game is over, generally between 7 and 7:30 p.m. General admission is $5 and $3 for children. Tickets are still available, but it is advisable to get there early as it should be a full house.
For more information, go to www.bassbowl.com, or call Rob Ishihara at 972-3845 or Phil Smoley at 264-4905.
