The Battle for the Victory Bell began with both sides of the field’s crowds excited and loud, the cheers echoing throughout the field and into the night.

Although this remained true throughout the entire game, there were hints of sadness and anger in the side Hoover’s fans were on, as the Tornados lost 39-8 against the Glendale Nitros on Friday night at Moyse Field.

The game began with a seven-yard touchdown by Glendale’s Dennis Perez just a minute into the game. Perez finished with 71 yards rushing on eight carries for the Nitros who finished the season with a 2-8 record.

Hoover didn’t respond until Ethan Davis scored on an 11-yard touchdown run. The missed two-point conversion made the score 7-6. That was the last touchdown Hoover would score. 

Kierson Florita, Glendale’s top athlete, had an 86-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that made the score 14-6 with three minutes remaining. The senior’s astounding score was the third longest run from scrimmage in the history of the Glendale-Hoover game, which dates to 1930. Florita had a spectacular night with 148 yards rushing in just seven carries.

The Tornados were able to shift the score with a safety that gave them their final two points.

However, the game began to take a grim turn as the Tornados could not unlight the spark from the Nitro’s flame. 

Glendale scored 19 points in the third quarter, highlighted by a 55-yard interception return for a score by Anthony Lopez and a 17-yard touchdown run by Florita.

The Tornados were devastated with the loss, however this devastation carried more than just a simple loss, especially for the senior players of the team. 

“The game was painful, obviously, since it was the biggest game of the season,” Marcus Bailey, one of the Tornado’s senior players said. “For the seniors, it’s pretty difficult to take, especially since most of us won’t be seeing a football field anymore.”

Following the Tornado’s loss, many players left the field with despair. A multitude of players had mixed feelings about how the game went, and reflected on things that they could have improved upon.

“Glendale had the firepower and we just did not,” Davis said. “By halftime we had so many injuries, and we just couldn’t do it anymore.”

Davis will be one of the many players returning next year. Hoover graduates just three players. Hoover finished the season with a 6-4 record, which was the most wins for a Tornado team since 1987.