About $54,000 was raised during the 15th annual Castle Challenge football game between DeKalb and Sycamore high schools, which has collected more than $900,000 throughout its history.

DeKalb won the Friday challenge, 55-40. DeKalb Mayor John Rey said the game had a turnout of about 11,000 people. The money raised from the Castle Challenge game will be split between the schools’ booster programs, Sycamore Mayor Ken Mundy said.

“The sponsorships have been from both communities … but Castle Bank has been the primary sponsor for all these years,” Mundy said. “We still call it the Castle Challenge, but tonight almost 85 sponsors are here and that’s a big contribution to the whole event and the success financially for both schools.”

Mundy said about $70,000 was raised last year between the challenges: basketball in the spring and football in the fall.

“The fact that our players can play on a Div. I football field is a real plus in and of itself because a lot of high schoolers never get a chance to do that,” Mundy said. “So the experience to play on a field like this … is amazing.”

Rey said he was glad both communities had a good turnout for the game. He said the DeKalb football team is starting out on a good note.

The challenge “pulls together enthusiasm across both DeKalb and Sycamore,” Rey said.

Elena Edwards, Sycamore High School sophomore, said Sycamore has beat DeKalb in the football game for as long as she can remember.

“I love my school … I’ve been going [to the game] since I was in sixth grade,” Edwards said.

DeKalb resident Paul Baggett said his son, Daniel Baggett, played for the DeKalb football team and he wanted to see the Barbs win.

“I think it’s a terrific momentum building for the rest of the season and it’s an in-conference game,” Baggett said.