2015 Meet The Team Night scrimmage... in Mt Vernon?

By Jason Miller  |   March 13, 2015, 5:48 p.m.

Yes, you read that correctly.

When August rolls around in West Branch, we look forward to school, volleyball, and Friday Night Lights. The first of those Fight Night Lights highlight reels comes in the form of the annual "Meet The Team" night. It includes a padded practice/scrimmage featuring the Bear football team.

Well, in 2015, a change is gonna come....for the football team (only).

In place of the Little Rose Bowl football activities, the Bears will participate in a live (controlled) scrimmage against the Mt. Vernon Mustangs. It will take place on the campus of Cornell College in Mt. Vernon on the college's all-weather turf field on Friday, August 21.

The night before, on Thursday, August 20, the annual Meet the Teams Night introductions of football, volleyball, and cross country partcipants will take place at a time and place yet to be determined. When those become available, we will post a note of reminder for everyone wishing to attend. 

"I think this is a tremendous opportunity that we could not pass on," states West Branch head coach Butch Pedersen, speaking of the scrimmage. "The quarterbacks will wear a vest and be non-contact. The running backs will only be able to be hit above the waist, and will not be driven to the ground on contact."

The Mustangs are coached by Lance Pedersen, the oldest son of Butch and his wife, Jenny, and 1990 graduate at West Branch. In 2014, Lance's first season at Mt. Vernon, the team finished with a record of 6-5 and qualified for the 2A state playoffs, returning to the postseason for just the second time since 2006.

More news to come relating to Meet the Team Night and the scrimmage as we get closer to August.

Be sure to stay tuned to WestBranchFootball.com for all breaking news and announcements pertaining to Bear Football.

Also, if you have yet to sign up for Trivia Night on April 4th, there is VERY limited seating available. Click here for more detailed information regarding this wonderfully fun evening of fellowship to help raise funds to support the football program.