COUNTDOWN TO THE ALMOND BOWL
CHICO » As Vikings and Panthers were set to go head to head, preparations were made at the battlegrounds and spirits were soaring high.
In the day leading up to Chico’s Almond Bowl, where Chico and Pleasant Valley high schools would clash on the football field, students, faculty and staff put in the hours to create a massive event for spectators for the event’s 50th year.
The game has been an entertainment staple for the city of Chico for half a century, which has led to some big local moments. This year the event will take place on the PV High School campus.
“I think that it’s a big deal because it’s such a community event,” said PV Principal Damon Whittaker. “And there’s historic ties to both schools in the community. When you have two high schools in a small town like Chico, it creates such a natural rivalry and so growing up, you hear stories about, you know, this person going to this high school, this person went to that high school and generations of kids will attend certain high schools because their families did.”
Each team makes a strong case for victory and many of the games stay close enough to keep onlookers at the edge of their seats.
“It’s been such an even rivalry over the years,” Whittaker said. “I think Chico has won a couple more games overall than we have, but it’s a close rivalry which keeps it intense.”
Two years have passed since the last Almond Bowl due to the pandemic, spurring both schools to create something even bigger. The events started Thursday evening.
The day/night before
Rather than host a conventional school rally, PV opted for its annual bonfire event Thursday night.
The bonfire went from 7 to 9 p.m. and gave students a chance to interact and get hyped up for the game day.
Kinder’s BBQ begins smoking meats and burger patties in preparation for what is expected to be a huge business night as the restaurant had both a food truck and a mobile kitchen on site at the game.
Game day: 8-9:50 a.m.
Chico High School student and member of the school’s leadership group Ellie Kidd started her day by buying donuts for her set up team knowing the group was in for a long day of work.
It’s been two years since the school has had a rally or assembly thanks to COVID-19, and this year the rally was broken into two parts to minimize the number of students in the gym at once. The first presentation was given to the freshman and sophomore class and the second to the junior and senior class.
“I’m so excited that everyone gets to be in here together,” Kidd said. “Especially since we haven’t had one in two years. I’m really excited for the energy when people start coming in the door. I’m overwhelmed with excitement.”
Teacher and Activities Director Kathyleen Bishop said the buildup to the assemblies, because it had been so long, took some getting used to.
“It’s like teaching from scratch,” Bishop said.
Meanwhile, over at Pleasant Valley High School, students began setting up the home side of the stadium with dense blue and white streamers and balloons.
Poster boards with the names and numbers of players were sprawled across the fence lining the bleachers, each custom made by students.
The harsh, dark grey weather that hung over Chico on Friday morning dispersed into massive white clouds broken up by blue sky just in time for setting up decorations.
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Pleasant Valley High School Band, which was set to walk the players out at the start of the game and perform at the big halftime show, spent two class periods getting some last-minute practice in.
The week leading up to the game was the first week the students were able to practice indoors in compliance with pandemic regulations.
“We practice in class and then we go out on the field and we do a final run-through of our show,” said Band Director Casson Scowcroft.
The school’s band has historically been a major focal point of large games throughout the year.
Back at Chico High School, the assemblies went off without a hitch. Students leading the festivities played finish the lyrics with the crowd with songs like The Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way” and Niel Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.”
Lights went dim as English teacher and the school’s sports announcer Jordan Matthews recited a bedtime story of Chico’s win at the last Almond Bowl followed by the school’s loss during a 2020 game with responsive cheers and boos from the students.
1-5:30 p.m.
The same group that lead the Chico High rotating assemblies made their way to the PV campus quickly to set up their side of the stadium with gold streamers and flailing tube men to be inflated each time their team scored.
Large, gold letters spelling out Panthers were put up by the bleachers as students fought the wind to make sure everything was in place.
PV students also returned to the stadium for last-minute touches on their decor, adding more balloons, wrapped streamers and securing everything.
Two massive posters were set side by side against the tennis court fence that read “We Run This Town” in blue and white letters.
“It’s been really chaotic,” said PV student and ASB Officer Anna Isherwood. “I only went to two of my class periods and then I’ve just been out here running around trying to figure out whatever needs to be done like putting up canvases. Just making sure everything is in order for tonight.”
Kinder’s BBQ prepared for its big evening as well.
“We’re looking at 150 to 200 burgers and shooting for 300 pulled pork sandwiches and a ton of fries,” said Trevor Papp who was organizing for Kinder’s.
Around this time, Chico Nissan rolled up with the two cars to be gifted out in the raffle: a Nissan Sentra and Hyundai Elantra. One red and one blue.
5:30-7:30 p.m.
The varsity game kicked off at 5:30 p.m.
At roughly the same time, the PV marching band suited up and went down to the stadium in place to walk its team out on the field come varsity time.
Pregame events began and the varsity teams meet on the field.
The Almond Bowl commenced.