Prep parade: Why The Children's Center Bowl remains important

BETHANY — For nine years, Bethany High School and The Children's Center Rehabilitation Center have teamed up for a huge fundraiser centered around football.

The Children's Center Bowl is weeks of fundraising around Bethany and in the opposing team's community leading up to a game that brings together the fans of two schools to help children at the center.

On Thursday, the game has even more importance with No. 8 Bethany facing No. 3 Blanchard in what will ultimately decide someone's playoff fate in a loaded district.

For three people involved, this is why the night is important.

Ryley Clayborn, Bethany assistant coach and former player

The old picture from 2010 is gone, though Ryley Claborn is often reminded of it.

He was on the football field his junior year surrounded by three teammates. In the middle was Devin Campbell pushing the wheelchair of a boy named Luke for the pregame coin toss.

The picture once hung on Claborn's bedroom wall, a reminder of the importance of each child in attendance.

“One of the things a lot of people overlook is it's not necessarily as important for us players as much as the Children's Center's kids,” Claborn said.

Claborn went on to play quarterback at Southwestern Oklahoma State. He's now Bethany's quarterbacks coach.

Just a few days ago, he received a text message from a longtime friend's mom. It was a Timehop memory of that photo.

Claborn immediately thought of that first year.

Players had little idea what to expect. Team dinner was at the Children's Center. Players didn't even know there was a trophy until after their win against Kingfisher.

But now the event is huge.

“Now it's blown up to where we even pushed homecoming up and a week and didn't have the game in Week 2, because in some people's eyes The Children's' Center Bowl meant more than homecoming,” Claborn said. “It's been an incredible deal and it's had incredible growth.”

Jon Arthur, Bethany coach

Jon Arthur is always amazed at what happens during the weeks leading up to The Children's Center Bowl.

Bethany's school system is just different.

Penny Wars with the opposing school district. Proceeds from profits at local restaurants are raised. Car washes are held.

All to help others.

“It lets you see the bigger picture, that there's a whole lot more to life than the game of football,” Arthur said. “Being able to serve others and give back is such a big key that we want to get across to our players and our students.”

Arthur is in his second year as the Bronchos' head coach. But he spent the previous years of the bowl game as an assistant coach.

In that span, Bethany has teamed with Kingfisher, Washington and Marlow to raise money. This year against Blanchard, the local Boomarang Diner in each community held a competitive fundraiser.

It's likely that the event will surpass $100,000 raised since it started in 2010.

“Just whatever we can do to help our kids like they're actually a part of this, even if it's in a small way,” Arthur said. “It's not about the amount. It's about being part of something special.”

Jeff Craig, Blanchard coach

Blanchard coach Jeff Craig put the promotional video on for his entire team, and immediately realized the importance of this week.

“It puts a different perspective on everything,” Craig said. “If you're a part of that, there's a lot more there than just a football game now.”

This is the first season Blanchard has been involved in the bowl game. But it's not the first time the two schools have teamed up to help one another.

In 2015, Bethany's Hudson Haws suffered an injury against Blanchard that left him paralyzed below the waist. The two communities rallied to help the Haws family.

In 2017, Blanchard's Nathan Williams died in a boating accident. Bethany pitched in to help his family.

“We have an intimate relationship with Bethany in a lot of ways,” Craig said. “There's been that beyond-football relationship that as intense as it is on the field we've really had a close relationship off the field in different capacities.”

That's what makes this week's matchup perfect.

“It almost seems like this is the way it should be, that the two of us would come together and play a football game on behalf of the Children's Center,” Craig said.