Royal Oak Beats Berkley in Spirit Contest

The Berkley Bears football team may have won the "Fight Against Childhood Cancer" game Oct. 19, but the Royal Oak Ravens took the title of most-spirited in Patch's photo upload contest between the cross-Woodward Avenue rivals.

of their school spirit and colors by the Oct. 21 deadline, with Royal Oak submitting 643 photos and one video and Berkley submitting 409 photos and 3 videos.

As a prize, Patch will donate $200 on behalf of the Royal Oak Ravens to Children’s Miracle Network at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak and Berkley Patch will run a photo of the Ravens football team as its Facebook page banner Thursday.

Ahead of the matchup, players raised money for Children’s Miracle Network at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak and the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. The Bears won the game, 42-29, thus bringing "The Curb" – the prestigious chunk of cement that serves as a trophy in the rivalry – to the west side of Woodward Avenue.

"The game was a lot closer than what (the score indicated). It was not an easy game by any means," Berkley High School football coach Jeff Burnside said. "It was close. They were kicking our tail pretty good. We got it into gear in the end."