More than football at stake in annual rivalry game

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CAMDEN, SC (WIS) - It is officially week zero of high school football, and folks across the Midlands are excited. There are dozens of football games happening Friday night, including one of the biggest rivalries of the season: Lugoff-Elgin vs. Camden.

The rivalry dates back to 1978. Camden dominates the series 29-7, but each year is always a toss-up. However, Lugoff-Elgin gets home field advantage this year. Friday night marks the 10th time the two sides have opened the season against each other.

"The game Friday -- the actual night -- just being there is going to be so much fun," LEHS student Chloe Horton said. "I've always been on student council and it's always been a ton of fun, but this year I really want it to be great."

"I'm ready for the student section definitely," Camden High student body president Brooke Galdeen said. "It's always so fun there. And I'm ready to beat Lugoff!"

And while the students are extremely excited for the game, they are also competing for the Caring Cup. For one week out of the year, the schools and students raise money for United Way of Kershaw County.

This year the other high school in the district, North Central, is getting in on the action as well. Students want to "Strive for 25" with a goal is raise $25 multiplied by their total student population. Over the past seven years, KCSD schools have raised more than $250,000 for the local United Way. Last year's total alone was more than $67,000.

The school with the highest per student dollar amount raised will receive the United Way's Caring Cup to be presented at this year's Springdale 5K race Saturday.