Charlie, Adam and Nick Bacon are reunited just in time for Friday's T-NT game. Dan Cappellazzo/staff photographer Click on photo for larger image

Back from Iraq: Bacon's make T-NT a family affair
Eric O Connor
Thursday, October 21, 2026

Lance Cpl. Adam Bacon spent the last eight months defending America’s freedom. He deserves some peace and quiet.

This week, however, peace and quiet can be elusive.

The former Tonawanda High School quarterback returned from Iraq last week, just in time for Friday’s T-NT football game at Clinton Small Stadium

Bacon said his homecoming reception was exciting. Greeting him at the airport were television cameras and most of his family.

“It was great. It was a lot more than I expected,” said Bacon, who graduated from Tonawanda High School in 2002.

Bacon, 20, spent much of his time overseas near the Syrian border in Iraq. He is a member of the Combat Engineer Battalion from the 1st Marine Division out of Pendleton, California. He returns to his base on Nov. 1.

“We go out and support the grunts. I operate an armed bulldozer, a D-9, this thing will take rocket fire,” Bacon said. “You never know when it’s going to come.”

THE GAME

Bacon said his most memorable T-NT game was the one in 2000.

“It was my junior year, the last time Tonawanda won,” he said. “It was a huge comeback, we came all the way back from 21 points down and won 24-21.”

Adding to his excitement this week, brother Charlie Bacon is a center on Tonawanda’s junior varsity team, and cousin Nick Bacon is a running back on the varsity team. Bacon’s older brother, Andrew Bacon, was also a quarterback for Tonawanda.

“I don’t know either team real well, but I’m definitely pulling for Tonawanda this year,” Bacon said. “My mom would keep me updated about the news though, sending me newspaper clippings.”


































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