Every fall, a fierce rivalry ignites on the football field between Helix Charter High School and Grossmont High School. But It’s not just bragging rights on the line – It’s something far more symbolic. For over seven decades, a musket has been the trophy passed between these rivals, a prized possession that carries a rich legacy of fierce competition.
The first game between Helix and Grossmont stood out because the teams were made up of former classmates. Helix Charter High School had just been established as its own school to help with the growing student population at Grossmont. Unfortunately, Due to delays in building the new Helix campus, both schools had to share facilities during the 1951-1952 school year. Grossmont was able to have the campus for morning classes while Helix took the afternoon. This means that the two new football teams not only knew each other but were previous classmates. This shared experience made the game even more exciting to watch and added a personal touch to the rivalry.
The Musket originates from the family of a student named Jack Campbell, who was our school’s first senior class president and the first halfback of their new team. Jack Campbell’s father, Sidney Campbell, was said to have had the musk passed down to him. He offered it as the prize for the upcoming football game, creating a tradition that would last for decades, and, unintentionally, made history.
So, on Friday, November 2, 1951, a crowd of thousands of people from La Mesa gathered to watch the two schools compete for the very first time. It was a vicious game, but Grossmont High came out on top, and, after the game, the musket was presented to the Football team’s captain at the time, Virgil Bell.
The rivalry between Helix and Grossmont goes beyond the football field; it serves as a unifying force within La Mesa. The rivalry ignites fun school and community events such as spirit weeks and restaurant competitions, with the local Chick-fil-A holding a Battle of the Schools to see which of the two can earn the most money in the week leading up to the big game.
Today, the musket has proudly remained on Helix ground since 1992. In the most recent rival game that took place on October 18th, Helix students filled the stands at Grossmont showing their pride by wearing green spirit wear. It was an intense clash, but Helix once again took the victory 56-26, ensuring that our prized musket stays at Helix for another year to come.
