Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
Whether the battle is for a milk jug, a coal bucket, an old shoe or just bragging rights, Pennsylvania high school football is loaded with storied rivalries. From small towns to big cities, these matchups bring communities together and represent the best of high school football. Most of the rivalries highlighted are thanks to input from high school coaches across the state who answered a preseason survey about their teams. Thanks to all the coaches who participated! Which rivalries did we miss? Let us know your favorite Pennsylvania high school football rivalry at mswanson@advancelocal.com and provide some details (name, trophy, history, etc.) The initial list below started with 50 rivalries, but it will grow as readers weigh in. TOP PA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RIVALRIES Abington Heights vs. Delaware Valley The Interstate 84 Black and Blue Jug is on the line when these northeastern Pennsylvania squads clash. This rivalry has intensified in recent years as both programs play in District 2 Class 5A. Abington Senior vs. Cheltenham One of Pennsylvania’s oldest rivalries, dating back more than 115 years. The teams have to travel less than three miles to play each other in this suburban Philadelphia matchup. Aliquippa vs. Beaver Falls This WPAL rivalry dates to 1920. The teams have met both in the regular season and in the postseason with the Quips having the lead in the long-running series. Allentown Central Catholic vs. Bethlehem Catholic Known as “The Holy War,” this Lehigh Valley Catholic school rivalry extends beyond football to all sports. Archbishop Ryan vs. Father Judge This Philadelphia Catholic League rivalry brings together two of the city’s most storied programs in an annual battle for neighborhood supremacy in Northeast Philadelphia. Avon Grove vs. Oxford Area The Milk Jug trophy is at stake in this Chester County showdown. The 10 Mile Rivalry game features neighboring communities competing for local bragging rights and a unique piece of hardware. Avonworth vs. North Catholic Though no trophy is awarded, this Western Pennsylvania matchup has developed into one of the WPIAL’s most competitive rivalries, with both programs regularly contending for championships in recent years. Bald Eagle Area vs. Bellefonte The Curtin Bowl brings together these cross-bridge Centre County rivals in one of central Pennsylvania’s most anticipated games. The game has been going on since the 1950s. Bangor vs. Pen Argyl This Slate Belt trophy is up for grabs in this rivalry, which was played for the 106th time this season. “This is our Super Bowl,” Pen Argyl center Xavier Ragusa said after this season’s win to give Pen Argyl a 53-49-4 lead in the series. Bellwood-Antis vs. Tyrone Known as the “Backyard Brawl,” this Blair County rivalry game has been played 85 times. Berlin vs. Meyersdale Another “Backyard Brawl,” this Somerset County version brings together neighboring communities in a rivalry that divides the region every season. Big Spring vs. Boiling Springs The aptly named “Battle of the Springs” features a Little Brown Jug trophy and bragging rights on the line between these Cumberland County teams separated by 15 miles. Bishop Canevin vs. Seton LaSalle This Pittsburgh-area Catholic school rivalry has produced some of western Pennsylvania’s most competitive small-school matchups, with both programs regularly in contention for WPIAL championships. Bishop McDevitt vs. Harrisburg The rivalry between these Harrisburg schools separated by just three miles was on hiatus for seven years until the teams found themselves as Commonwealth Division rivals in the Mid-Penn Conference in 2024. Harrisburg hoisted the City Series trophy in 2024 and 2025, but the Crusaders hold a 21-17 series advantage in the “Battle of the ‘Burg.” Cambria Heights vs. Northern Cambria The Coal Bowl (with its Coal Bucket trophy) celebrates the region’s mining heritage while providing one of western Pennsylvania’s most intense small-school rivalries. Canon-McMillan vs. Peters Township The Battle of Washington County brings together these suburban Pittsburgh rivals in one of the WPIAL’s most anticipated regular-season matchups. Canton Area vs. Troy The Old Shoe Game is one of northern Pennsylvania’s most unique trophy games, with the winner claiming an old football shoe that has become a coveted prize in this longstanding rivalry. Cedar Cliff vs. Red Land This Shore Bowl features schools from the same central Pennsylvania district competing for local bragging rights, often before packed stands of divided communities. Central vs. Northeast The Thanksgiving Day battle for the Wooden Horse Trophy is one of Philadelphia’s oldest and most celebrated public school rivalries. It dates back to 1892. Central Bucks East vs. Central Bucks West This Suburban One League contest is the highlight of the season in Doylestown, Bucks County, and since it’s played in Week 10, there’s plenty on the line. West won the 2025 edition. Central Dauphin vs. Cumberland Valley This matchup between Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division powers regularly has conference and district championship implications. “In 2013 MaxPreps selected 13 of the biggest rivalry games in the U.S. and highlighted one each week. CD vs CV was one of them,” Central Dauphin coach Glen McNamee said. Chester vs. Chichester This Delaware County rivalry brings together neighboring communities, but Chester has owned the matchup in recent years. Cocalico vs. Ephrata The trophy in this “Backyard Brawl” adds significance to this Lancaster County rivalry between neighboring communities separated by just a few miles. The winner takes the Review Cup. Downingtown East vs. Downingtown West The original Downingtown High School split into two schools in 2003, creating “The Battle of the Brandywine,” which has produced memorable regular-season and postseason games. East Pennsboro vs. Susquehanna Township These two squads have played 44 times dating back to 1967, with 18 of those games being decided by eight points or less. There’s no name for the game, but East Pennsboro coach John Denniston says they’ve had “incredibly hard-fought games the past several years.” East Stroudsburg South vs. Stroudsburg The Battle for the Little Brown Jug is one of the Poconos’ premier sporting events, with the trophy adding extra significance to this rivalry. Episcopal Academy vs. Haverford School The annual battle for “the sweater” is one of the oldest rivalries in the country, featuring two of the oldest programs in the state. The game has been played since 1889. Erie Cathedral Prep vs. McDowell These District 10 teams have played 83 times. McDowell has won the last three contests, but Erie Cathedral Prep leads the series 49-34. Germantown Academy vs. Penn Charter The nation’s longest continuous high school football rivalry will celebrate its 140th meeting on Saturday, Nov. 8. Penn Charter leads the series 89-38-11 in a game that’s been played since 1887. Governor Mifflin vs. Wilson This Berks County rivalry had its 68th renewal this season. Wilson won its fourth consecutive meeting to continue to hold the all-time series lead. Hamburg vs. Schuylkill Valley The Frost Bowl and its accompanying trophy highlight this Berks County rivalry that has seen Schuylkill Valley claim victory for the past four years. Hershey vs. Milton Hershey The Cocoa Bean Bowl was played at Hersheypark Stadium for decades and now rotates between each high school’s home field. Hershey leads the series, first played in 1943, by a 42-37-3 margin in this Mid-Penn Conference rivalry. Interboro vs. Ridley The Turkey Bowl is one of Delaware County’s most anticipated Thanksgiving sports traditions, which will continue this year on November 27. La Salle College vs. St. Joseph’s Prep This Philadelphia Catholic League rivalry game is played twice most years, as both teams routinely square off in the Class 6A postseason. The series stands at 64-42-4 in favor of St. Joseph’s Prep after La Salle won both meetings in 2025. Lehighton vs. Jim Thorpe This Carbon County rivalry brings together communities with rich football traditions in the battle for the Route 209 Trophy. Liberty vs. Freedom The intra-Bethlehem rivalry splits the city each season in one of the Lehigh Valley’s most anticipated games. The Battle of Christmas City has been going on since 1958. Liberty prevailed in the regular season and playoffs this year. Lower Merion vs. Radnor These two football teams first met in 1897, with Lower Merion winning the 2025 game 17-14. Games were not played in 1901 and 1905. The 2025 contest marked the 120th consecutive time these two Central League teams battled, with Radnor holding the series lead 62-58-11. Mechanicsburg vs. Northern The Route 15 Trophy is at stake when these rivals separated by eight miles meet. Although the annual rivalry isn’t historical, the new series has continued to live up to the hype. Moshannon Valley vs. Glendale The Battle of Smoke Run and its Croatian Club Trophy highlight this rural rivalry between neighboring districts in a tradition-rich, small-school matchup. Mt. Carmel Area vs. Shamokin The Coal Bucket Trophy goes to the winner of this coal region classic between two of Pennsylvania’s most historic programs. The game has been played since 1908. North Allegheny vs. Pine-Richland This battle of WPIAL powerhouses has developed into one of western Pennsylvania’s premier rivalries, with both programs regularly competing for district and state championships. Northampton vs. Catasauqua This rivalry of East Penn Conference teams will mark its 100th anniversary on Thanksgiving Day. The teams met twice in 1925 and 1926. Northampton leads the all-time series by a 64-33-4 count in the 101 games contested. Northern Lebanon vs. Annville-Cleona Though lacking an official name or trophy, Northern Lebanon coach Jason Rice describes this rivalry as featuring “good old-fashioned dislike for one another.” Oil City vs. Franklin This matchup began in 1896 and is known as “The Route 8 Rivalry.” Oil City has dominated the rivalry since 2010 and won this year’s game 47-0. Pennridge vs. Quakertown This Thanksgiving Day tradition will celebrate its 96th meeting this month, making it one of the state’s oldest holiday rivalries. “Our game doesn’t officially have a name and only just recently began to award a trophy to the winning school each year,” Pennridge coach Kyle Beller said. Perkiomen Valley vs. Spring-Ford This Montgomery County rivalry has developed into one of the most competitive in District 1, with both programs regularly contending for Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division championships. Scranton vs. West Scranton Dubbed “The Bell Game,” this Lackawanna County rivalry winner receives a mounted bell as its trophy. The series dates to 1954 when West Scranton, Scranton Central and Scranton Tech played for possession of an old railroad. The modern-day series started in 1991. Shenandoah Valley vs. Mahanoy Area Another game known as “The Backyard Brawl,” this matchup between Schuylkill County programs dates back to 1899. The winner receives the Damato/Szematowicz Trophy, established in 1945 to honor the first soldiers killed in World War II from Shenandoah and Mahanoy City. Shenandoah Valley leads the series 60-50-6. Westinghouse-Taylor vs. Allderdice This rivalry is dubbed “The City League Championship Game,” and is a highly anticipated matchup annually by Pittsburgh-area high school football fans. West Perry vs. Susquenita The Perry County Trophy is on the line when these rural central Pennsylvania rivals meet.
