Riverview defeats Springdale in Souper Bowl, but food banks are real winners

An inaugural food drive competition called the Souper Bowl saw Riverview Jr.-Sr. High School eke out a victory over Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School.

The event kicked off Feb. 16. Riverview and Springdale each collected more than 4,000 food items for their local food banks, with Riverview pulling in just a few more by the end of the competition a month later.

The outcome means the Allegheny Valley School District’s administration will have to wear Riverview’s spirit wear as part of a friendly wager when the items are delivered Tuesday.

The United Methodist Church Food Bank in Verona and the Allegheny Valley Food Bank are the Souper Bowl food drive recipients.

The project was open to all students, staff and community members.

It was the brainchild of Riverview English and public speaking instructor Michelle Walsh.

“Since no one was able to attend the Springdale-Riverview football game this year because of covid, we thought ‘wouldn’t it be fun if we had Riverview vs. Springdale Souper Bowl and have it as a canned food drive,’ ” said Walsh. “There are so many people right now that are in need; it wouldn’t be a football game but we could play it off like a football game.”

Riverview School District Superintendent Neil English threw his support to the Souper Bowl as a way to ease tensions between the schools created by their intense sports rivalry.

“Things became rowdy and rambunctious and it started to get negative,” English said. “We were kind of like, ‘Hey, let’s turn this around and do some more positive things.’

“And in all actuality, Allegheny Valley and Riverview have much more in common than they do in terms of differences. And even though we raised a little more than Allegheny Valley, there are no losers.”

Allegheny Valley School District public relations director Jan Zastawniak agreed.

“They coordinated a terrific project that will make a huge impact,” she said. “It shows that despite a rivalry that goes back many years, students can still join together to benefit their communities.”

The Souper Bowl project is the second that the two groups completed; the first was a stocking stuffer competition to help the homeless in December.

Officials from both school districts say there will definitely be a Souper Bowl II next year.