Video: Aberdeen Students Play Egg Bowl Game

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ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) — The Egg Bowl is usually between Mississippi State and Ole Miss football players, but this year some different teams are playing – at least at one Aberdeen school.

Students at Belle Elementary have their own version of the game as a reward for their reading accomplishments.

“We kind’ve get them hyped up and excited to play and root for their team,” said teacher Sheila Westbrook.

Teachers are rewarding 160 students with tailgating fun and flag football, after they met their accelerated reading goals this semester.

“The students read books from the library, and they take tests, and they’re according to their reading level, and they have a certain goal that they need to reach,” Westbrook said.

“There are specific books that have points, and when you read them, and take a test on them, you get points for them,” said fifth grader Andrew Carlock.

The more they read, the more points they earn. Now kids can see picking up a book has big rewards.

“It pays off a lot of your hard work for the long hours of reading, and understanding and comprehending what you’re reading, and taking your time on your test,” said fifth grader Madison Johnson.

Teachers say the Egg Bowl is also an “eggstra” incentive to get kids to spend more time away from the TV, and more time in a good book.

“[Reading] is one of my favorite things,” Carlock said.

After Friday’s flag football game, some of the students were given prizes for their reading accomplishments.