Catholic-Country Day to play for John Cook Cup and U.S. Veterans in first Patriotism Bowl

Each year, high school football rivals Charlotte Country Day and Charlotte Catholic play for the John Cook Cup. The Cup is in honor of the former Charlotte Country Day coach, and winning it is a huge honor for both schools.

This year, in addition to the Cook Cup, the two rivals will play for their country.

The teams, meeting for the 52nd time, will play in the first Patriotism Bowl Aug. 31. The game, which will played at Charlotte Catholic, will benefit three organizations that support U.S. veterans, active military members and their families.

Charlotte Catholic athletics director Kevin Christmas said the plan is for the Patriotism Bowl to feature different high school teams each year. He said organizers hoped to raise $30,000 this season from the Country Day-Catholic game, which organizers believe will attract between 4,000 and 5,000 fans.

“It’s going to be a good experience for the kids,” Christmas said, “and it’ll bring awareness for our veterans, so we can pay tribute.”

The game will have a pregame parchute jump and Navy flyover. A five-man special forces team from Special Forces Parachute Team of out Raleigh will bring in the game ball and flag. The national anthem will be sung by N.C. native and Purple Heart recepient John Hyland, who lost a leg as a soilder in Afghanistan. He sang the anthem at the 2010 Coca Cola 600.

In addition, the teams will wear camouflaged jerseys.

The game will support the Carolinas Freedom Foundation, Operation Homefront of North Carolina and Purple Heart Homes.