MEAD, Wash. — One of Spokane County’s most storied high school football rivalries returns tonight as Mead and Mount Spokane High Schools clash in the Battle of the Bell at Union Stadium.
The nearly 30-year tradition has evolved beyond the football field. This year, the two schools are channeling their competitive spirit into a community food drive, turning rivalry into action that addresses local hunger.
For the past week, students from both schools have participated in the Cross Town Claw Down, a series of spirit competitions centered around fall sports, activities, and school spirit. Tonight’s game marks the culmination of these events, but the competition extends beyond football.
Volunteers will be stationed outside Union Stadium collecting food donations from fans and community members. After the game, organizers will weigh the donations to determine which school collected the most food.
Noah Chavez, a student organizer for the initiative, emphasized the importance of the effort. “There are just a lot of people in our community who do need things like that, who do go to the food bank on a daily basis, that not necessarily everybody knows about. So we just want to bring awareness to that, bring as many people together as we can and get as many donations,” Chavez said.
Gates at Union Stadium open at 5 p.m., and donations will be accepted from that time through the end of the football game. Community members interested in supporting the cause are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to contribute.
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