Neighboring cities Alma and Van Buren have been football rivals for decades. Both teams mascots are dogs, and Thursday night is the Battle of the Bone.
Students are known to play pranks on each other before the big game, but this year, it landed four of them in jail, according to Alma Chief of Police Russell White.
“We had a couple of incidents of vandalism where there was some rock throwing and paintballs shot at vehicles,” said Chief White.
Chief White says some downtown businesses also reported damage from Wednesday night. He says officers arrested four Alma students in connection to the vandalism.
“Just kids I think carrying things a little too far,” said Chief White. “I believe it actually started in Van Buren.”
The Pointer students allegedly came into Airedale territory after Alma students allegedly egged Blakemore Field. Alma says none of their school property was damaged.
“Those persons let it go out of hand and hopefully the next bunch next year won’t,” said Chief White.
The schools will duke it out Thursday night at Airedale Stadium beginning at 7 p.m.
