Geneva and Batavia high schools have one of the oldest football rivalries in the state of Illinois.

But when those two teams meet Friday for the rivalry game that will once again determine the Upstate Eight River Division championship, fans from both sides won’t be wearing just blue-and-white or crimson-and-gold, but pink, as well.

Both high schools’ cheering sections, “The Dog Pound” and “The Blue Crue,” will be selling pink Batavia vs. Geneva “Combined for a Cause” T-shirts this week to benefit LivingWell Cancer Resource Center and Fox Valley Food for Health.

Each limited-edition T-shirt is $10 and available in small, medium, large, and extra large sizes. All proceeds from T-shirt sales will be donated to the LivingWell Cancer Resource Center and Fox Valley Food for Health.

“This will be the only time you will see a Bulldog and a Viking on a shirt together,” said Batavia High School varsity football coach Dennis Piron. “All kidding aside, we are really excited about this partnership with Geneva High School to help two outstanding organizations. We are, of course, turning this into a friendly competition to see which school can raise the most funds. The Battlin’ Bulldogs are fired up to go pink, so it’s going to be a tough competition!”

Geneva Athletic Director Jim Kafer said both teams can get behind the causes of cancer research and food for health.

“Competition between Batavia and Geneva is always intense and passionate, but this represents an opportunity for the two schools and communities to take advantage of all this energy and channel it to a very positive cause,” he said. “These efforts won’t diminish the desire to win on the field, but in the end two great communities will have come together to help others in need.”

Batavia and Geneva high schools will be selling the “Combined for a Cause” T-shirts to students during their school lunch hours on Wednesday, Oct. 14 and Thurs., Oct. 15. Geneva will also be selling them at lunch on Friday, Oct. 16.

The public will be able to purchase T-shirts at the Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Batavia football team dinner in the Batavia High School cafeteria from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and at the Batavia vs. Geneva football game at Geneva High School on Friday, Oct. 16, starting at 5 p.m.

In addition to the T-shirt sales, a 50/50 raffle will be held during the Fri., Oct. 16 game. Raffle tickets will be sold in both the visitor and home sections. Sales will also benefit the LivingWell Cancer Resource Center and Fox Valley Food for Health.

SOURCE: School District 304 press release