Willard to hold Military Appreciation Night

WILLARD — The Willard City School district will again hold its annual Military Appreciation Night as part of the festivities at Friday's football game against nearby Plymouth. Festivities will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a tailgate in the parking lot outside Haas Gymnasium. The band "Muckstorm" will perform live while food is grilled. Donations will be accepted to benefit the WCS Veteran programing. All military veterans will receive their free pass for the game at the red, white and blue tent. At 6:35 p.m., on-field activities will include an Honor Tunnel to bring the Crimson Flashes (1-0) and big Red (1-0) onto the field. Honorary captains representing Plymouth will be Jim Enderby and Tim Hall. Jerry Heckman and Tom Wiles will represent Willard. Veterans are also invited to hold the American flag across the field as the National Anthem is performed. Dwayne Cassidy, Eric Adams, Ron Hicks and Todd Ryman will help prepare and raise the flag. Marion Davis will deliver the game ball just prior to kickoff. Military veterans from both communities are invited to participate. Separated by seven miles, Plymouth and Willard started playing annually in 2015. Each team has won four games in the previous eight meetings. Neither team has ever won more than two in a row in the series, something the Crimson Flashes could do with a win on Friday at Terry King Stadium. Series history2015: Plymouth 20, Willard 72016: Plymouth 37, Willard 202017: Willard 32, Plymouth 162018: Willard 38, Plymouth 352019: Plymouth 46, Willard 122020: No game (COVID)2021: Plymouth 49, Willard 132022: Willard 77, Plymouth 352023: Willard 37, Plymouth 16