SAN JOSE – The stands at Lincoln High were filled with ravenous students and alumni for the 78th rendition of the Big Bone game against San Jose.
But this wasn’t a Thursday morning. It certainly wasn’t Thanksgiving.
It was Friday night on Labor Day weekend, with no turkey dinner awaiting those returning home after a 56-12 victory by Lincoln – a 23rd straight win for the Lions in the storied matchup that dates back nearly eight decades and was the oldest Thanksgiving rivalry game west of Missouri.
“It’s different,” said Gene Dawson, a former coach for both schools now-turned spectator who took the field to congratulate Lincoln coach Kevin Collins. “My first game was in 1948, … but it was time. We ran it out and Kevin was the man, he kept this game going the last 15 to 20 years.
“Thanksgiving is over and we’re on to Labor Day weekend – and the Bone is still alive.”
Frank Strouse vows he’s never missed a Big Bone game.
The 80-year-old with 20/20 vision is a former three-time participant in the rivalry – Lincoln, class of ‘59. Now he roams the sidelines with a camera for the sake of posterity.
This week his wife asked Strouse if it would feel funny not to eat turkey after the Big Bone game.
“It’s not going to be the same, but people are still coming out,” Strouse said. “That tradition hasn’t died since 1943, it’s always been there. It just keeps on going.”
Lincoln senior Amari Glass-Dillard will never forget the first Labor Day clash between the schools.
The 5-foot-7, 225-pound bowling ball was a clear crowd favorite by the roars after touchdown runs of 3 of 32 yards late in the first half, as the Lions (1-0) led by a resounding 49-6 at intermission.
But instead of immediately joining his teammates in the locker room, there was the matter of his halftime duties as homecoming king.
“It’s surreal,” Glass-Dillard said. “It doesn’t even feel real to me.”
Lincoln quarterback Tayden Phillips displayed his versatility with a 38-yard punt return to the house, an 84-yard scamper into the end zone and a 20-yard TD pass to senior Thomas Crawford.
Fellow junior Salvador Espinoza also didn’t hold back with a 40-yard TD run on the fourth snap of the game and a kickoff return for a score in the first half.
San Jose (0-2) avoided the shutout after backup quarterback Raul Sandoval hit a wide-open Hugo Vega on a 19-yard fade with 5:03 left in the second quarter. Vega also hauled in a 34-yard pass in the fourth quarter to set up Sandoval’s 3-yard TD toss to Mike Guzman.
“We need to have guys who are ready to come in,” San Jose coach Nakai Smith said. “Next guy up is kind of a well-known phrase and that kind of just showed tonight.”
This was the first Big Bone game for Smith, as either a coach or spectator.
“It was amazing and much more than I expected,” Smith said. “Great outcome and our fans were loud and electric. It shows it’s a big rivalry game.”
For his counterpart, it was the 28th time leading the Lions against the Bulldogs.
“That was one the best turnouts we’ve had playing San Jose in a long time,” said Collins, who commented on the charged-up vibe around campus the entire week.
For the players and fans, whether it’s held at the beginning of September or November, it’s still the rivalry game everyone has circled on the calendar.
“It is very hard to describe,” Strouse said. “To me it was everything.”
“It feels the same, to be honest,” Glass-Dillard said. “I just don’t want to cook on Thanksgiving. Normally I just come home to food.”
For Collins, a veteran of the Big Bone game for a 28th time, that last Thursday of November will contain a void he fought so hard to keep alive.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do Thanksgiving morning,” Collins said. “Maybe drive to City College or some of the places we’ve played and reminisce. It’s going to be weird.”
He added: “It’s sad when traditions go, but look what we had. This is what we need.”
