Greatest Rivalries Part 1

Here are some responses that I have gotten back to two questions I asked on what the greatest rivalries are in high school sports. Here are the two questions

1. What do you think is the best high school rivalry and why?

2. What is your most memorable moment from a rivarly that you are/were involved in?

Here are some of our first answers

Dan Stephens (Head Boys Basketball Coach-Heritage High School)

1. Well, the Sam Rayburn Texans and Pasadena Eagles, of course. The best since I've been a Virginian would have to be Heritage and E.C. Glass. Unfortunately, it is less about the game and more about being seen AT the game. A loud social event-some positive, some not so much.

2. My first exposure to the Heritage-E.C. Glass game as a coach was to walk into the hallway leading to the gym during the JV game and finding one of our varsity players sitting on the floor hyperventilating. I knew then that this wasn't just another game.

Ryan Gilleland (Assistant Baseball and Football Coach at Jefferson Forest High School. Also has served as head baseball coach and was Junior Varsity Boys Basketball coach for a spell as well)

1. Obviously, JF - Brookville. You can throw both teams records out in this rivalry in all sports. The emotion and passion to win this game is higher than any other game we play.

2. I remember in 1991 when JF-Brookville were both 9-0 in football and played against each other the last game of the year at Brookville. JF won the game in the last minute or so and was probably the craziest memory I have of the rivalry. For me, some of the best memories I have of playing against Brookville was scoring a touchdown my Junior year at Brookville as we won the game. In basketball my senior year, I remember playing at Brookville with Frank Beamer in the stands, there to see Anthony Poindexter. Anthony drove the lane late in the game and threw done a thunderous dunk against the Bees as we won the game. From baseball, we beat the Bees in the final game of the year my sophomore year to clinch the regular season Seminole District Championship at Brookville

Dwayne Hamlette (Assistant Football Coach and Former Football Player at William Campbell)

1. William Campbell and Gretna: For the simple fact that these two small areas produce great football teams year in and year out, and the 30 minutes distance helps too. People plan time off from work for these games and it is usually for the district and the winner and loser usually makes a deep playoff run. The really funny thing is both schools have trouble scheduling local teams to play them, especially the larger schools.

2. The rivalry between JF and William Campbell. We played them first the first game of the year my sophomore and junior year and it was a dog fight. We also ended up playing them in the playoffs my junior year and won on a deflected pass that was taken to the endzone. Our two teams didn't like each other at all. Before one of our battles at William Campbell, both teams were side by side under the goal post and had to be separated by the coaches....great times!

More to come. Keep checking back for more memories of great high school rivalries (from all over the map)