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The Bruins varsity football team prevailed over the Old Mill Patriots, 19-3, during a home game on October 17, and following the victory, hundreds of Broadneck High School students crossed College Parkway to enjoy a fun party in a safe environment at Broadneck Park.
For many years, a festival hosted by Arnold-based Broadneck Evangelical Presbyterian Church (BEP) has drawn up to 600 high schoolers to the nearby park after home football games. Offering good, clean fun in the form of inflatables, games, food and more, the “Fifth Quarter” is an alternative to parties where kids might get into trouble.
BEP’s website explains the mission of the after-party: “The goal of Fifth Quarter is to offer Broadneck High School students the truth of faith, hope and love in Jesus Christ as a positive alternative to combat the lies of drugs, sex and alcohol offered at after-game parties.”
Longtime BEP member and current elder Chris Chitterling has volunteered with the Fifth Quarter for over two decades.
“We saw what BEP was doing, and it was to try to give a safe place for the kids to come after a home game, because it can get crazy,” Chitterling said, adding, “We can share our faith with them if in fact they want to hear it. So, it was a perfect way to get involved, get my kids involved.”
Chitterling’s three kids, all Severna Park High School graduates, are now adults, but he and his wife, Tricia, continue to serve with Fifth Quarter.
The Shipley’s Choice resident helps coordinate volunteers for the event, including people trained in security, and helps ensure everyone involved has had a background check. When the party winds down after 11:00pm, he assists with trash collection and teardown into the early morning hours.
In years past, Fifth Quarter took place after every home game, but as it grew so too did the need for volunteers, and it transitioned into one large annual event.
Students toss footballs, play frisbee, navigate inflatable obstacle courses and slides, nosh on donated food including Spizzico pizza and Chick-fil-A sandwiches, and have the opportunity to learn about Christianity.
Throughout Fifth Quarter, tents are set up for students to ask church representatives questions about faith if they want to. Chitterling shared that students ask about what they believe and some even challenge them. Kids stick around at the tents to hear the dialogues, and there are often long lines of students waiting to ask questions. Tricia volunteers in the tents and loves conversing with the students, Chitterling shared.
“It’s fun seeing everyone get together to help the youth … to see all the kids together, and they’re just having a blast together, they’re really having fun,” Chitterling said of what he loves about Fifth Quarter. “As well as the tents … that kids really want to know, they really do ask, and some maybe already believe in God, (but) a lot do not. But they do ask and they have really good questions.”
He shared that the after-party had humble beginnings in someone’s basement many years ago while the church was meeting in an elementary school. When BEP purchased the property where the church now stands, they began hosting Fifth Quarter there prior to construction, and for much of the event’s history, it has been held at Broadneck Park.
BEP Associate Pastor Jon Pickens oversees the church’s youth programming, including Fifth Quarter, and is grateful for volunteers like Chitterling.
“Chris has been a humble and active leader and volunteer at Broadneck EP Church for many years,” Pickens said. “As one of the volunteer leaders – in a variety of different roles over the years – of Fifth Quarter, he’s been a great source of support and encouragement.”
Chitterling was born and raised in Annapolis and works for a technology company. He and Tricia attended the University of Maryland and have been married just shy of 35 years. They enjoy boating and spending time with their three grandchildren.
Chitterling counts it a blessing to be a part of the Fifth Quarter and looks forward to serving with future events.
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