Gar-Field vs. Woodbridge football game gets national exposure

Everybody loves a rivalry game -- Yankees-Red Sox, Redskins-Cowboys, Lakers-Celtics -- and apparently, so does the U.S. Marines, at least when it comes to high school football.

Next Friday night, Nov. 6, the Great American Rivalry Series -- sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps -- will make a stop in Woodbridge. as longtime rivals Woodbridge and Gar-Field square off at 7:30 p.m. The game is one of 32 selected by the Marine-sponsored 2009 Rivalry Series.

This year marks the 45th rendition of Indians vs. Vikings -- they started playing in 1965 -- with Gar-Field leading the series, 24-19-1. Gar-Field is 5-3 this season heading into Friday night's home game with Hylton (4-4); No. 12 Woodbridge (8-0) plays at Osbourn Park (7-1) on Friday night.

As part of the Series, the winning team not only earns bragging rights but also the coveted Great American Rivalry Series Champion trophy, presented on-field by a United States Marine following the game. The game’s Most Valuable Player is selected by media in attendance, and the Series awards a college scholarship to the top student-athlete from each team.

Two alumni from the schools will be inducted into the Great American Rivalry Series Hall of Fame during a halftime ceremony, honoring their past performance in the historic rivalry.

Fans are encouraged to compete on behalf of their school and take the Rivalry Series United States Marine Corps Chin-up Challenge. The school completing the most chin-ups will be awarded the Chin-up Challenge trophy, presented by the Marines during the game.

The Great American Rivalry Series emerged from a desire to celebrate the cultural phenomenon of Friday night high school football. The Series shines the spotlight on classic gridiron clashes throughout the nation.