Brawley celebrates the Victory Bell

BRAWLEY – The city of Brawley on Wednesday held a community rally to formally welcome the Victory Bell back in town.

The Brawley Union High football team beat Central Union High, 3421, on Oct. 29 to reclaim the bragging rights trophy.

Central has had the Bell since winning it in 2017.

Wednesday’s rally took place at 2:15 p.m. at the Kiwanis Kiosk in North Plaza Park.

The start time of the rally coincided with the time school at BUHS ended. As such, students, band members, cheerleaders and football players all walked together from the campus to the kiosk.

Brawley Police officers closed the streets from the school to the kiosk while the students were en route.

Gold-and-blue-colored decorations, handmade signs and bell ornaments covered the kiosk.

BUHS principal Jesse Sanchez provided opening remarks. He observed this was the 50th time that Brawley has won the Bell since the game was initiated in 1944.

“So good job, boys,” Sanchez said. “They have brought the Bell home, and they have put us back on top.”

Sanchez, a 1985 BUHS grad himself, gave credit to the team’s coaching staff: Head Coach Jon Self and assistant coaches Brandon Young, Ray Vandiver and Marcial Tagaban.

Appearing on behalf of the Brawley City Council was Councilman Donny Wharton.

Wharton, during his remarks, also gave credit to the coaching staff.

Wharton recalled that his sons played under the same staff when they were on the team.

The councilman described the Oct. 29 game as “four quarters of Brawley football as good as it could be played.”

During his brief speech, Self thanked the fans who were in attendance at the game, as their cheers helped the team during tough moments of the game.

He also thanked the residents who were waiting in Brawley when the players arrived home with the Bell.

The head coach recalled that there were plenty of car horns as the team’s bus entered Brawley.

“You guys made it extra special for us,” Self said to the crowd. “Thank you.”

Staff Writer Vincent Osuna can be reached at vosuna@ivpressonline. com or (760) 337-3442.

PHOTOS BY VINCENT OSUNA RIGHT: Cidney Roper cheers with her fellow Brawley Union High cheerleaders during a community Bell Game rally on Wednesday in Brawley.

LEFT: (FROM LEFT) Brawley Union High’s Robert Platt; Ethan Gutierrrez, Isaiah Young and Daniel Camillo sing a team chant during a community Bell Game rally on Wednesday in Brawley.

Brawley Union High’s Head Football Coach Jon Self speaks during a community Bell Game rally on Wednesday in Brawley.