PHOTO BY JON FLEMING
“We’re baaaack!!” The Salem Times-Register football contest is back this week, better than ever, for the 52nd consecutive year.
Here’s the good news. As you know by now Mac & Bob’s restaurant in Salem was sold within the past month. Former owners Bob Rotanz and Joe Dishaw generously sponsored our contest for many years with a $50 gift certificate going to the winner of the contest each week of the season, starting with the first high school games and running to the week prior to Christmas. Well, the new owners have agreed to continue to sponsor our contest with the $50 deal. Is that great or what!!
In addition, Chuck Johnston at the Salem Municipal Golf Course on Academy Street has agreed to continue giving a free round of golf to the winner of our 19th hole question each week. I’ll ask an additional question right here in the contest story and the winning response gets free golf, as many holes as you can play in one day. Go out early and play till dark if you want.
This week we open the season with seven high school games and eight college games. I try to pick the toughest games to predict that I can find, but I always have the Salem, Glenvar and Virginia Tech games on the contest regardless of who they play. Next week we’ll have pro games as well as the NFL season opens next Thursday with the Eagles hosting the Cowboys.
For this week’s 19th hole I want you to pick the winner of the Texas against Ohio State game on Saturday at noon. What a great game to open the season!! Those two could be playing again for the national championship in January. Put your prediction in the space provided in the entry blank on the facing page and the closest to the actual score gets a free round of golf.
Look for “Eddie Junior,” our official contest logo, each week in the Salem Times-Register sports section for the contest story. The rules are included on the entry blank, and they’re easy enough that a third-grader could understand. And there’s no age limit to enter.
And if you haven’t noticed, our TOUCHDOWN XLIX high school football preview is included in a special section of this week’s edition.
Good luck and enjoy the football season. Looks like another great one. –Brian Hoffman
