The Bell Game

  • Central hoisting the Bell

    Centennial celebrating with the Bell

    The oldest ongoing American football rivalry for high school teams west of the Mississippi River, Centennial and Central have been battling almost annually since 1892. In 1950, the two teams began playing for ownership of "The Bell," which has morphed into "The Bell Game" as we know it today. 

     

    About 'The Bell'

    Ownership of 'The Bell' is a point of pride for every student at Centennial and Central, and has become perhaps the greatest high school tradition in America.

    Since 1950, an old railroad bell mounted on a wheeled cart became the prize sought by each team. From this simple "trophy" traded between schools has arisen a tradition that captivates each school's student body, teachers, alumni, and the entire community of Pueblo. Often the highest annual attendance for a high school sports event in Colorado, The Bell Game typically draws about 15,000 fans to Pueblo's Dutch Clark Stadium each year.

    In the days leading up to the game each year, everybody in Pueblo will repeatedly hear the rallying cry of both schools – "The Bell Rings Blue!" at Central, and "The Bell Rings Red!" at Centennial. It's a rallying cry that not only echoed inside of the schools' walls, but all over the community, from teens to 80-year-old alumni alike. 

    Each time The Bell changes hands, it is tradition that The Bell is peacefully transferred from one school to the other. The senior cheerleaders of the losing school wheel the bell to midfield  at the conclusion of the game, where it is handed over to the senior cheerleaders and players from the victorious school. The wheeled cart is then re-painted and displayed prominently in each school's lobby, and can be heard ringing at the winning school's sporting events and school activities that year. 

    This tradition is why "The Bell Game" is perhaps the richest tradition in Pueblo. 

     

    Rivalry Notes

    • All-time series: Central leads 57-53-9
    • First “Bell Game”: 1950 (Central leads “Bell Game” series 36-32-3)
    • Most points scored (Central): 74 (1898, all-time series); 53 (1999, Bell Game series, a loss)
    • Most points scored (Centennial): 70 (1904, all-time series); 69 (1999, Bell Game series)
    • Most combined points scored: 121 (1999, 69-53 Centennial win)
    • Least combined points scored: 0 (1932, 1936, 1936, 1942, 1956)
    • Most consecutive wins (all-time): 10 (Central, 1953-62)

  • Bell Game history

    1892—Central 4, Centennial 0

    1893—Centennial 4, Central 0

    1897—Centennial 16, Central 0

    1898—Central 74, Centennial 0

    1900—Centennial 30, Central 0

    1900—Centennial 11, Central 0

    1903—Centennial 10, Central 0

    1904—Centennial 70, Central 0

    1905—Centennial 11, Central 0

    1906—Central 4, Centennial 0

    1907—Central 6, Centennial 6

    1921—Central 13, Centennial 0

    1922—Central 9, Centennial 0

    1923—Centennial 5, Central 0

    1924—Central 22, Centennial 13

    1925—Central 43, Centennial 0

    1926—Central 6, Centennial 3

    1927—Central 13, Centennial 6

    1928—Central 21, Centennial 0

    1929—Centennial 12, Central 0

    1930—Central 20, Centennial 0

    1931—Central 24, Centennial 6

    1932—Centennial 0, Central 0

    1932—Centennial 27, Central 0

    1933—Centennial 26, Central 13

    1933—Centennial 12, Central 6

    1934—Centennial 26, Central 2

    1934—Centennial 7, Central 6

    1935—Central 21, Centennial 6

    1935—Central 13, Centennial 0

    1936—Centennial 0, Central 0

    1936—Centennial 0, Central 0

    1937—Centennial 7, Central 7

    1938—Central 13, Centennial 7

    1939—Centennial 20, Central 13

    1940—Centennial 7, Central 6

    1941—Centennial 1, Central 0 (forfeit)

    1942—Centennial 0, Central 0

    1942—Central 12, Centennial 7

    1943—Centennial 13, Central 0

    1943—Central 7, Centennial 0

    1944—Central 40, Centennial 0

    1945—Centennial 19, Central 0

    1946—Centennial 26, Central 21

    1947—Central 33, Centennial 13

    1948—Central 7, Centennial 6

    1948—Centennial 13, Central 0

    1949—Central 19, Centennial 9

    *1950—Central 40, Centennial 27

    1950—Central 25, Centennial 15

    1951—Central 13, Centennial 7

    1952—Centennial 14, Central 0

    1953—Central 32, Centennial 14

    1954—Central 24, Centennial 0

    1955—Central 19, Centennial 14

    1956—Central 0, Centennial 0

    1957—Central 19, Centennial 0

    1958—Central 26, Centennial 12

    1959—Central 13, Centennial 6

    1960—Central 6, Centennial 0

    1961—Central 28, Centennial 14

    1962—Central 13, Centennial 0

    1963—Centennial 14, Central 7

    1964—Central 7, Centennial 0

    1965—Central 46, Centennial 0

    1966—Central 7, Centennial 7

    1967—Central 10, Centennial 0

    1968—Centennial 13, Central 6

    1969—Central 44, Centennial 13

    1970—Central 21, Centennial 20

    1971—Central 6, Centennial 0

    1972—Central 7, Centennial 7

    1973—Central 17, Centennial 14

    1974—Centennial 13, Central 12

    1975—Centennial 19, Central 0

    1976—Central 14, Centennial 7

    1977—Centennial 6, Central 0

    1978—Centennial 13, Central 7

    1979—Central 16, Centennial 3

    1980—Centennial 19, Central 7

    1981—Central 35, Centennial 8

    1982—Central 35, Centennial 0

    1983—Central 20, Centennial 0

    1984—Centennial 13, Central 6

    1985—Central 14, Centennial 6

    1986—Centennial 14, Central 0

    1987—Centennial 28, Central 10

    1988—Central 15, Centennial 12

    1989—Centennial 29, Central 17

    1990—Central 20, Centennial 18

    1991—Centennial 40, Central 15

    1992—Centennial 30, Central 6

    1993—Centennial 34, Central 15

    1994—Centennial 26, Central 0

    1995—Central 21, Centennial 14

    1996—Centennial 28, Central 25

    1997—Centennial 7, Central 6

    1998—Central 27, Centennial 9

    1999—Centennial 69, Central 53

    2000—Central 28, Centennial 13

    2001—Centennial 20, Central 0

    2002—Centennial 42, Central 14

    2003—Central 19, Centennial 13

    2004—Centennial 58, Central 14

    2005—Centennial 35, Central 13

    2006—Centennial 32, Central 14

    2007—Central 14, Centennial 6

    2008—Central 22, Centennial 21, OT

    2009—Central 29, Centennial 20

    2010—Centennial 32, Central 20

    2011—Centennial 51, Central 22

    2012—Centennial 41, Central 39

    2013—Centennial 41, Central 29

    2014—Centennial 28, Central 26

    2015—Central 27, Centennial 24

    2016—Centennial 31, Central 7

    2017—Centennial 14, Central 8, OT

    2018—Centennial 24, Central 12

    2019—Central 23, Centennial 0

    2020—Central 17, Centennial 9