CATLIN — For many years, the one local trophy game has been the Coal Bucket game between Westville at Georgetown-Ridge Farm.
But Kyle Strange wanted to see another trophy game.
Strange decided to add to the rivalry matchups by making the Salt Kettle trophy, which will make its first appearance in a game for Friday’s Oakwood-Salt Fork game.
“I have ties to both schools I graduated in 2007 and my brother in the current all0time leading rusher at Oakwood,” Strange said. “My kids go to Salt Fork. They have grown up here and played youth football and I have become a Salt Fork Storm myself.
“With them being freshmen at Salt Fork, it is something cool we can do for the kids, the communities and there is no better time to do this since Oakwood is winning some games because in the early 2000’s, Salt Fork was dominating the series. I think now both programs are even and there is going to be a dog fight for each game. My dad and I were talking about rivalries and he said, ‘Why do you make a trophy?’ So that’s what I did and we took it upon ourselves.
“These two comminutes co-op with wrestling, cross country and soccer, so they have similar things, but in football, it is a rivalry.”
The Salt Kettle idea became a no-brainer after Strange looked up the history of the area.
I did some local history of the area like the Coal Bucket for Westville and Georgetown. Both areas have Salt Kettles and we are close to the Salt Kettle rest area,” Strange said. “I got with both coaches and asked if they would be interested and they were very excited. I took upon myself to start something that would be cool.”
Both schools are 5-2 and qualified for playoff action last week. The Storm beat Georgetown-Ridge Farm 48-20 while the Comets beat Iroquois West 48-0.
The Comets and the Storm have offenses that can score in bunches. Both teams have scored at least 40 points in four of their victories.
The winner will receive the trophy that Strange has built from Strange himself.
“I will do that just for the first year and after that, the schools can pass it back and forth,” Strange said. “I just want to get the ball rolling and get something established and get something that both teams can look forward to.”
The game starts at 7 p.m. on Friday and will be broadcast on WHRK-FM 94.9.
Covington at Riverton Parke
Time — 7 p.m. Eastern Friday
Records — Covington 5-3 overall, 3-3 in Wabash River Conference. Riverton Parke 8-0 overall,6-0 in Wabash River Conference.
Radio — WKZS-FM 103.1
Summary — The Trojans will prepare for playoff action against the team who has dominated the WRC all year. The Panthers have scored at least 30 points in each game and has only allowed more than 10 points twice. In some ways, it could be a preview of the future. If Covington and Riverton Parke both win their openers next week, they will meet in an IHSAA Class 1A sectional semifinal on Oct. 31.
Seeger at North Vermillion
Time — 7 p.m. Eastern Friday
Records — Seeger 7-1 overall, 5-1 in Wabash River Conference. North Vermillion 0-8 overall, 0-6 in Wabash River Conference.
Summary — The Patriots have been piling up the points and they could end the regular season with some more against the Falcons. It will be Seeger’s final game against a 1A team as the Patriots will be in an IHSAA Class 2A sectional and will start play next week against Lafayette Central Catholic. North Vermillion will go from Seeger to Riverton Parke next week.
Fountain Central at Parke Heritage
Time — 7 p.m. Eastern Friday
Records — Fountain Central 4-4 overall, 4-2 in Wabash River Conference. Parke Heritage 5-3 overall, 4-2 in Wabash River Conference.
Summary — The Mustangs and Wolves will battle to see who will end up in third place in the WRC. Fountain Central has scored 51 points in each of its last two games, while Parke Heritage is coming off a loss to Riverton Parke. Next week, both teams will play each other again in sectional action.
Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin at Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Chrisman
Time — 7 p.m. Friday
Records — BHRA 5-2 overall and in Vermilion Valley Conference. GRFC 3-4 overall and in Vermilion Valley Conference.
Radio — WITY-AM 980 and WITY-FM 99.5
Summary — The Blue Devils have already clinched a playoff spot, but the Buffaloes would like to join them. If GRFC can get past BHRA and Momence, it will have the five wins needed for its first playoff berth since 2018. But that is easier said than done against the Blue Devil rushing offense, who have had strong showings from Issac Cahill two weeks ago and Liam Parish last week.
Westville at Hoopeston Area/Armstrong-Potomac
Time — 7 p.m. Friday
Records — Westville 7-0 overall and in Vermilion Valley Conference. HAAP 0-7 overall and in Vermilion Valley Conference.
Summary — Both teams enter in full opposite directions with the Tigers basically on its way to winning the VVC and the Cornjerkers at the bottom. HAAP has given up at least 40 points in five games this season and Westville has scored at least 40 points in all but one game so far.