Hinsdale South took the field against Downers Grove South for the first time in 1966, using in one of the most icom=nic football traditions in the West Suburban Conference: the Rebel Cannon game.

The Rebel Cannon is for both Hinsdale South and Downers South, a prized, though unconventional, trophy. 

“The Rebel Cannon, to me, means something we battle for every year,” captain and linebacker Griffin Carr said. “We train all year for it, and it is the highlight of our football season.”

The cannon was constructed in 1966 by two Hinsdale South Industrial Tech teachers, Armand LeCrone and Dick Buban, to mark the occasion of the first HSHS vs. DGS match. The administrations of both schools agreed that the winner of the annual game would  keep the trophy until the following year, when they face off again.

The first game for the Rebel Cannon, came to a draw, marking 1966 as the only year in the infamous matchup’s history to end in a tie. The following year, the Hornets were victorious, keeping the cannon at the Hive for the following three years. 

When the Rebel Cannon is won, the victors have the responsibility of updating the rivalry’s all-time record with a plate. As of 2021, it stands at 34-21-1, with DGS in the lead.

Yet, the cannon is more than just an icon of school conquest; it’s the heart of the football team. 

To Robbie Spang, quarterback and captain, the Rebel Cannon signifies tradition from both schools. “To me, the cannon means tradition,” Spang said. “It is a great way to honor those who have played football at both schools in the decades prior to us.”