During City High’s pep assembly on Friday afternoon, Mr. Bacon started a chant around the gym, saying “We want the boot.” That wish is now a reality, as City High defeated West High on a rainy night at Bates Field by a final score of 14-12.

The game started on schedule, but was delayed by lightning only two minutes into the first quarter. During the break, fans from both sides congregated in the City High gymnasium. During which time, dance battles ensued, as well as performances by the City High Dance Team as well as the West High Cheerleaders.

The game was supposed to resume around 8:55, but another lightning delay pushed it back to 9:25.

When the game resumed, City High would recover a West High fumble, and Nate Wieland ’17 would find Jason Jones ’16 in the corner of the endzone on fourth down. Both teams had some trouble finding their groove offensively. They traded punts for much of the first half, but City High had a chance to add another touchdown before the half. Wieland would find Will Noack ’16 for a long gain to put City High in good position to score. Following a few more plays, City had the ball down to the one. After having second and one from the one and a half, West would come up with a goal line stop, to keep it at 7-0. City High had another chance to add on to their score at the end of the half, but Dylan Leigh ’16 bobbled the snap. He then proceeded to toss it up, resulting in a West High interception, and another scoreless drive.

West High responded with a touchdown in the second half, as their offense came to life. The two point conversion was no good, but it was still a one point game, 7-6.

City High then responded with a touchdown by Rajay Rodney ’17, in which Rodney was initially stopped at the five, but the offensive line kept the play alive by pushing him across the goalline. At that point, assistant coach Joe Wilcox addressed his offensive line, congratulating them on finishing a drive.

West High found an answer, however, with a big touchdown with under three minutes to play in the fourth quarter. It appeared that the runner may have been out at the one, but the referees didn’t spend any time discussing it. On the two point conversion, City High coach Dan Sabers tried to call for a timeout, but he wasn’t heard by the referees. The chaotic series of events concluded with the ball being thrown out of the back of the endzone on the two point conversion.

West High was able to recover the onside kick, but a City High interception on fourth and long sealed the win.

“Well, I think [the weather] slowed each offense down, there’s no question about that, ball security became huge, and overall, both teams did an excellent job considering the conditions,” coach Sabers said. “To be involved in a game like this and lose it would be very tough emotionally.”