PERRYSBURG, Ohio — It's a tradition for some at Perrysburg High School home football games to get a fried bologna sandwich. It seems strange, but it's a gourmet meal thanks to a few Perrysburg Boosters.
We’re introducing you to the men behind the meat for the yellow jackets.
When the Jackets are home, several head to their games hungry. That’s because they have some of the best eats under the Friday Night Lights.
"It all started with a charcoal grill doing it the old-fashioned way,” said David Matolyak, a Perrysburg Boost volunteer. “And it became so popular that we decided to add a couple gas grills and then this year we just added a flat top. So, in the last 15 years we've grown quite a bit."
For more than a decade, they've been meeting up at the grill, bringing their own meat and cooking up something special.
Literally, they make custom orders with fried eggs and bacon. People love their food and come back week after week.
"What's the secret,” WTOL asked Chuck Long, one of the founding grill masters.
“Not to burn them,” he joked as he was making a batch of hamburgers. “Which happens every now and then."
Their menu has evolved over the years, but their known for their fried bologna.
"We have a couple versions of it we have one that's called the 'big daddy special,'" said David Matolyak.
While it's easy to see these men enjoy being behind the grill and spending time with each other, they said it's also something they do to support the school they love and give the fans a memorable experience.
"It's giving back to the community,” said Matolyak. “Friday night is football in northwest Ohio. We all had children come through the district at one time or another and it's our way of giving back."
"It's good spirit for the community and they make a little money on it,” said Chuck Long. “So it works out good."
A little money, it's easy to see their food all around at the game. Jacket fans say it makes game night not only fun, but delicious. The men say the tradition will continue. They are even recruiting for the future.
"This is the newest member of the team,” joked Matolyak. “He's only been here three years so he's still a rookie."
The group of grill masters don't get to watch much of the game, but it's clear, Perrysburg Yellow Jacket Football would not be the same without the sizzle they bring.