[VELVET CLOSER]

Belfry-Russell certainly goes back a long time, especially to when the district was decided basically by the 3rd game of the year. By design, only one team made te playoffs per district, and Johnson Central wasn't that strong then. The loser of the Belfry-Russell game effectively was done with post season.
1978 was a big game, Russell winning 7-6 and subsequently the state championship (I think). Belfry won 6-0 in 1979, and eventually made their first state championship game.
One particular game that packed the stadium/fences/rooftops was the 2004 state semifinal game played at Belfry. The last game played at Vipperman Stadium sent Belfry to their second consecutive championship.
Yes, all of that is in the past. But I think older Belfry fans have a great deal of respect for Russell and their history. And the competition when the teams play each other.

Much respect for the Russell program, this rivalry goes way back. In 85 Belfry beat a good Russell team 14-7 on there way to the schools second ever state final appearance, then again the following year a even better Belfry team beat Russell 46-6 in route to there second straight class 3A finals appearance.

One thing each and every player knows when these two teams square off is that at the end of the night when the final buzzer sounds regardless of the score board and who comes out on top, you know you have been in a war and you have much respect for the other opponent.