Some high school football games are about more than the final score. That was certainly the case Friday night when Mahopac and Carmel met for their annual rivalry game and the chance to compete for the coveted Bryan Higgins Trophy.
The trophy honors Bryan Higgins, a former Mahopac student-athlete remembered for his exceptional football talent and, even more importantly, his character and ability to bring people together. The annual game keeps his memory connected to the two communities he called home and gives a new generation of students the opportunity to be part of that tradition.
This year, Carmel came away with the trophy after a hard-fought game. The rivalry continued beyond the field as Mahopac Superintendent Vincent DiGrandi and Carmel Superintendent Michael Plotkin joined the teams’ coaches, captains and athletic directors for a presentation with Town Councilman Robert Kearns at Carmel Town Hall. As part of a friendly wager between the superintendents, the Carmel school flag will fly alongside the American flag at the Town Hall for the remainder of the football season.
For DiGrandi, a Mahopac graduate himself, the tradition carries special meaning. He congratulated Carmel on the victory and praised both teams for the way they represented their schools.
“With my roots here in Mahopac, the Bryan Higgins Memorial Game does feel personal,” DiGrandi said. “I want to thank Carmel, not just for a wonderful football game, but for being gracious victors.”
He also recognized the Mahopac and Carmel coaches for the example they set for their players, saying, “We have phenomenal coaches who are developing boys into men, and I appreciate the work that they do and the way both teams carried themselves.”
The game may have ended with Carmel hoisting the trophy, but the tradition continues to give Mahopac student-athletes something more lasting: a chance to leave it all on the field, represent their community with pride and understand that how you carry yourself, whether in victory or defeat, matters long after the scoreboard is forgotten.
