Adam Howe
Editor-In-Chief
Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones and the Kansas City Chiefs appeared in their third championship game and secured their second Lombardi Trophy in the last four years on Sunday when they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in an instant classic, 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Though the game was played on the west coast, amped up parties and voluminous roars across Benton County may have been heard on the Chiefs sideline halfway across the country.
The Super Bowl and it's parties are, for all essential purposes, another non-traditional "holiday" on the calendar. And like Easter, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving or Christmas, much planning goes into get-togethers with hosts surrounded by family and friends.
"We had around 40 friends and family over to watch the game," said Justine Howell, who hosted one party with her husband, Dustin. "We had a full spread of food; pulled pork, wings, dips, desserts . . ."
With the focus primarily on the big game, the food comes in at a close second.
"We have a group of great friends who come over to watch the game, and our guest list is growing," Jeri Cain said, who hosted a party at her home with husband, Corbin. "This year, we had chili, meatballs, cheese dip, several other dips, a lot of other snack foods and special Chiefs cookies."
Brent and Jackie Whitaker, who are also annual hosts, served up a similar menu.
"We hosted almost 60 people," Brent Whitaker said. "I smoked pork butts and everyone brought all the good stuff to go along with it."
The game, itself, was the obvious highlight of the evening and, much to the delight of the Chiefs crowd at all three parties.
"My favorite part of the game was when Travis Kelce scored his touchdown on the Chiefs first drive of the game, and his dance in the endzone," said 8-year old Kylee Ferguson, who was at the Howell party.
"Besides the win, probably the loudest we got was when Nick Bolton scooped and scored a touchdown for the Chiefs defense," Whitaker said. "Of course, he's a Mizzou guy, so I kind of initiated that."
Over at the Cain party, the Bolton play was also celebrated, but not as much as the touchdown by Kadarius Toney that gave the Chiefs their first lead of the second half and the Skyy Moore touchdown reception that stretched the lead to 8 just a possession later.
"Those touchdowns just gave you the feeling that they (the Chiefs) were going to win," said Cain. "You could just see it in Mahomes' eyes."
Being with special friends, family and other fans made the night for most party-goers.
Andrea Ferguson, who was also at the Howell party, said, "I loved getting to share this experience with my girls. They enjoyed (and understood) this one more than the 2020 win."
Her other daughter, 14-year old Hailey, agreed, "I loved all of us getting together to support the team and the game we love."
"We had a lot of fun with the teenagers and the little kids," Howell added. "We were playing music to get the kids hyped, and when the kick went through the uprights to put us (the Chiefs) up by 3, everyone went nuts! We had to settle them down for the last 8 seconds of the game and then everyone lost their minds!"
Cain's husband, Corbin, said, "We're getting spoiled with the Chiefs and Super Bowl parties . . . but I hope it never ends! Three times in four years kind of makes it a tradition now!"
Ferguson's youngest daughter, 6-year old Avery, enjoyed the game, but wasn't near as tuned in or nervous as her mother. She simply said, "I told you the Chiefs were going to win the Super Bowl!"
You were right, Avery. To the delight of all of Red Kingdom, you were right.
