The Battle of Grundy

It's been years in the making. For the first time the Morris Redskin football team will cross the Illinois River to make then 13-mile trek to take on the Coal City Coalers on Friday.
The gridiron match is being billed as the Battle of Grundy and it’s expected to draw a large crowd. The talk around Grundy County is the season opener will draw more than 5,000 football fans from the two towns.
Unit 1 Superintendent Dr. Kent Bugg couldn't provide an estimate on the number of fans, but he suspects it will be a packed house on Friday.
“Morris has a great (football) tradition and we have a great one as well. We are hoping for great support, it's going to be a good community event,” Bugg said.
A football match up  between the two teams has been something locals wanted to see for quite a while, and as the superintendent notes, it's the only sport the two teams haven't faced each other before.
Military veterans and active duty service personnel from both communities will be recognized as part of Military Appreciation Night. Area veterans will conduct a flag ceremony at the start of the 7 p.m. contest.
A hospitality room located in the school’s four seasons room located on the northeast end of the field will be open to all military personnel—active or veterans—throughout the contest.  
The school sold 260 camouflage Military Appreciation Night T-shirts that highlight the Battle of Grundy. Proceeds from the T-shirt fundraiser will go to support planned renovations to the community's veterans monument located on the Coal City Intermediate School campus.
The school district is also hosting its annual faculty back-to-school picnic prior to the game. The outing is open to all Unit 1 School District employees and their immediate families.
Given the extra activities and an expectedly large crowd, parking could be an issue. Even with a large number of parking spaces available in the high school lots, Bugg said street side parking will be available in the surrounding neighborhood and the parking lots at the middle school and early childhood center will be available, requiring a short walk for spectators.
“Again, it’s going to be a great community event,” the superintendent said.
The Coalers look to build on a 6-4 record that ended in a first round playoff loss to Taylorville last October, and Morris starts the 2018 season with a second place trophy from last year's state championship.
“It's going to be a good test for us. Win or lose, it's going to be a good night, this is what high school athletics is all about,” Bugg said.