For two decades, the Matt Hobby Game has served as a key event at Pope High School, both commemorating the life of former student-athlete Matt Hobby and raising funds for childhood cancer research. This year’s 20th anniversary game brought a significant development: the school announced that its football facility will now be named “Matt Hobby Field” in honor of Hobby’s legacy.
The annual game, organized in partnership with the Rally Foundation, has raised over $400,000 since its inception. The foundation focuses on funding research for childhood cancers and supporting affected families. At this year’s event, thousands attended alongside Matt Hobby’s family, who were unaware of the field-naming announcement until it was made public.
“It’s overwhelming,” said Jud Hobby, Matt’s father. “Matt took great pride in stepping out on that field to represent Pope football. So, to have the field named after him, we are overwhelmed with emotion right now and very honored for Matt to be remembered in this way.”
Matt Hobby was a linebacker at Pope High School in the early 2000s when he was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma after his sophomore year. Despite undergoing chemotherapy and clinical trials that left him unable to play football during his junior year, he remained involved by supporting his teammates from the sidelines.
“Matt was two years younger than me,” said current Greyhounds football Head Coach Sean O’Sullivan. “I remember Matt as a hard-working kid who also enjoyed having fun. He had an awesome personality and was also a talented football player who gave his all on the field.”
“He was friends with just about everybody,” added Jud Hobby. “It was his openness, his warmth. He was generous and empathetic toward others.”
During his illness, community members began fundraising efforts under the name “4 Quarters 4 Matt.” When presented with donations during his junior year, Matt requested that they go toward childhood cancer research rather than himself.
“We had been to all these different cancer centers and saw all of the children who were suffering from cancer,” said Jud Hobby. “There were children his age, infants, toddlers, and he was struck by the need. So when the Pope parents presented him with a check during his junior year, he said that while he was appreciative…he asked that the donation go to childhood cancer research.”
Dean Crowe founded Rally Foundation around this time after seeing limited support specifically for childhood cancers through existing organizations. The collaboration between Crowe’s foundation and Pope High School led to formalizing fundraising efforts as “4 Quarters 4 Research (4Q4R).”
“It was our very first fundraiser,” said Crowe. “I vividly remember where I was standing at that first game. Matt and I locked eyes. We smiled and nodded at each other, both knowing that something bigger than either of us was happening.”
Matt completed treatment before senior year but relapsed soon after returning to practice; he died in May 2006 shortly after graduation.
The annual game became known informally as the Matt Hobby Game; each season since then honors one senior lineman with Jersey #70—Hobby’s number—for exemplifying determination and perseverance.
“Matt’s fight against Ewing sarcoma while a student here at Pope showed what having a ‘Stand Tough Mentality’ can do in tough times,” Coach O’Sullivan said. “He lost his battle with cancer but being able to recognize him every year and continue to raise money for childhood cancer is a big thing in the Pope Community.”
Pope Athletic Director Josh Mathews commented: “There is no other event that brings together our community more than the Matt Hobby Game…When a legacy transcends decades and generations and can unify a community for a life-changing cause—that is really special.”
Principal Matthew Bradford noted: “Our current students were not even born when Matt was able to walk the halls…Yet if you asked any of them they could tell you the story of Matt Hobby and his impact on this community.”
Over time 4Q4R expanded nationally; more than 300 schools across ten states now participate using proceeds for direct family support programs such as emergency funds or travel assistance while also funding targeted research into cures for childhood cancers.
According to Dean Crowe: “Rally Foundation has now funded over $40 million in childhood cancer research leading to incredible breakthroughs…and has secured $317 million in new federal funding for kids fighting cancer…We have done all this while walking with families every step of their journey and making sure that 93 cents of every dollar goes directly to our mission.”
Bradford summarized: “Few individuals have left such an enduring mark on Pope High School while also influencing communities nationwide…Naming our stadium in his honor is a fitting tribute to his remarkable legacy.”
Athletic Director Mathews agreed: “No one else that I know in Pope’s history has done anything comparable to raising $400,000 for cancer research…Putting Matt’s name on our field was a no-brainer.”
Coach O’Sullivan added: “I am so excited for Matt’s family…I hope they know how their son continues to be an inspiration to this community.” Mathews concluded: “Hopefully putting his name on our stadium will speak to the vastness of what this community thinks of …the courageous and impactful life that Matt Hobby lived.”
Asked what Matt would think about these tributes today Jud Hobby replied: “He would be extremely honored to be remembered 20 years later—and honored to have the community still focused on fundraising for childhood cancer research.”
This year’s event set another milestone by raising over $40,300—the largest amount collected since its inception.
