It was a special night at Tommy Oliver Stadium as members of the 1976 Bay High School state championship football team came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a season that made Bay County history.

The 1976 Tornadoes remain the only football team in Bay County to win a state championship, and five decades later, their bond, and their love for Bay High, are still going strong.

For many of the former players, Thursday night's celebration was more than a reunion. Some were seeing teammates they hadn't seen in decades, making the opportunity to stand together on the field again especially meaningful.

Before the game, members of the championship team were introduced and honored at midfield as Bay High celebrated their historic accomplishment. But the biggest moment of the evening came at halftime, when the team turned its attention from the past to the future.

To honor their alma mater and give back to the generations of Tornadoes who will follow them, the team raised $50,000 to establish an endowed scholarship for Bay High School. The scholarship will provide an award to a deserving Bay High senior each year, creating a lasting legacy well beyond the one they established on the football field.

At halftime, members of the team presented the $50,000 check to Bay High administration in front of the hometown crowd.

Fifty years ago, these Tornadoes made history together. This week, they came together again to make a difference for the students who will carry Bay High's legacy into the future.