By Charles Christiansen
Photo courtesy of Sydney Reed
Two of the biggest rivals in New Orleans high school football history, Ben Franklin and WiIllow, squared off in the second-annual Nerd Bowl on October 20th. It was an insanely huge win for us (38-7).
So far drawing packed bleachers, the Nerd Bowl brings together tons of students and parents from both schools to cheer on their favorite team. While these two schools have such a big rivalry in football, they are also known as the academic powerhouse high schools in the city. Hence the name, Nerd Bowl.
The Nerd Bowl does not always fall on Willow’s homecoming. Last year it was Franklin’s homecoming at Franklin. But this year, we were lucky enough to host the phenomenal win at our own Drew Brees Family Field for our homecoming game.
Is the Nerd Bowl a better game, though? Or is it like any regular game of football for the WIllow School students?
“It’s better than the regular games because we know, and they know, that we’re rivals and that we, of course, want to be the better nerd school than the other,” sophomore Asher Berkner, a player on the Willow football team, said. “The increase of people attending the game, I think, also helps because the players want to play even better with a huge percentage of the school in attendance.”
“It is better than other games,” said Oliver Upson, a WIllow School freshman who watched the game. “If you get there early, the seating isn’t bad. Getting there later, though, makes it a lot harder to find a seat. That would be the only downside. My favorite thing about the Nerd Bowl is that the crowd is a lot more crazy and everyone is filled with pride and spirit for the Willow Lions.”
“There’s a long history of competition and seeking revenge with Franklin,” said senior Alena Brimmer.
Many Willow students on and off the football team can agree that the Ben Franklin game is much more important and better than the regular games, regardless of whether it’s our homecoming game or not. The vote is nearly unanimous that the Nerd Bowl should be held every year, and the students in the crowd and players on the field are full of spirit and pride for the Nerd Bowl.
