The defending State Champions LC Bird Skyhawks defeated their arch rival from just down the road the Thomas Dale Warriors 35-6 in this year’s version of the “Battle of Chester” on Friday night in front of more than 6,000 fans at LC Bird Stadium. Since the “Battle of Chester” began in 1980, the rivalry, between the two schools separated by just six miles, is led in the all-time series by LC Bird 22-18-1 and they had won five straight (14-7 and 42-3 last season) and 11 of the last 13 overall heading into the 2013 contest.

MVP

Earl Hughes

L.C. Bird

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Darius Gillus

L.C. Bird

Dean Lee

Thomas Dale

HALL OF FAME

Doug Chapman

L.C. Bird

Vic Williams

Thomas Dale

GAME SUMMARY

LC Bird is coming off an impressive 14-0 season last year and their first-ever State Championship, and Thomas Dale is trying to rebound from a disappointing season by their standards, with a plethora of injuries leading to a 4-6 campaign. However, tensions were high in this early-season rivalry. LC Bird, however, continued their dominance, turning a tight contest at the half (14-6) into a convincing win overall behind the play of their defense and Great American Rivalry Series MVP Earl “Snug” Hughes, a senior transfer from nearby Meadowbrook High School, who led the team with 154 yards and two touchdowns on twenty-nine carries in the 35-6 victory.