More than $17,000 in checks were presented to officials from the Erie branch of the American Cancer Society and the Regional Cancer Center on Monday.

Cathedral Prep athletic director Bill Flanagan and McDowell AD Brian Fuller made the presentations from donations made during the inaugural Courage Bowl between the Ramblers and Trojans.

Most of the money was raised from the rivals’ Aug. 29 football game at Veterans Stadium. More than 9,500 fans turned out to watch McDowell beat Prep 43-23.

The Courage Bowl concept was initiated by 2004 Prep graduate Mike Freeman, whose mother died from breast cancer. Freeman represented the Ramblers for that game and Highmark Quad Games athlete Megan Collins, who’s recovering from breast cancer, represented McDowell.

Flanagan and Fuller indicated the Courage Bowl would become an annual part of the Prep-McDowell football rivalry. The 2009 game will be played at Gus Anderson Field.

— Mike Copper