In just a few days, the Radnor football team will face off against its greatest rival, Lower Merion! This game is one of the most anticipated events of the year for both schools; everyone gets fired up to see it. In fact, over the past decades, this football game has generated quite the following, ranging from school and local newspapers to larger news outlets like Sports Illustrated! This upcoming match is very important to both schools. As Radnor Football History puts it, “For those outside the ten-mile or so bubble that encompasses these two Pennsylvania townships, invoking this football rivalry means very little. But for those within its modest ambit, it is woven into the fabric of their towns and the evolution of the rivalry over more than a century is in many ways a reflection of their changing communities`” (radnorfootballhistory.com).
It’s true: the grand rivalry between Radnor and LM has lasted over a hundred years, making it one of the oldest public high school rivalries in the nation. The significant history of this game dates back 127 years.
In October of 1897, twenty years before the NFL even started, the Radnor versus LM matchup began. Two high school students, Harvey Hinkle from Lower Merion and O. Howard Wolfe from Radnor, asked their respective school principals for permission to set up a football game between the two schools. Permission was granted, and, in fact, there were two games held that year. The first took place October 26 on what is now North Wayne Field (mainlinemedianews.com).
In preparation for the game, students cut the grass and painted lines on the field. Hundreds of spectators showed up in horse-drawn carriages to cheer on their respective teams. Established just a couple years prior, Radnor had few students, even fewer of which played football (mainlinemedianews.com). In spite of their inexperience, they put up a good fight, eventually losing 10-4. This score is quite unusual for football, as the Lower Merion team gave up two safeties (which is when the defensive team either tackles the offensive team with the ball in their end zone, or forces an offensive player to run or fumble the ball out of bounds behind their own goal line) that resulted in the Radnor team getting 4 points. The game made the front-page news in both townships, whose newspapers were full of football trash talk (radnorfootball.com).
From this one game sprung another, and many more followed. Since that first game in 1897, the two rivals have battled each other on the field every single year, barring two exceptions. In 1901, there were not enough players for a game, and in 1905, it was canceled due to illnesses (mainlinemedianews.com).
As time went on, the football feuds grew increasingly popular. In fact, in 1930, the crowds grew so big that the location had to move to Villanova Stadium, which was able to house the ten thousand spectators attending the game. That year, Radnor tied Lower Merion, who had been undefeated so far in the regular football season. A huge celebration commenced afterwards, almost as if Radnor had won! (radnorfootballhistory.com).
Along the way, various traditions have emerged. In 1947, a bronze trophy was created, called the Lower Merion-Radnor Gold Trophy. Every year the game’s victor would gain possession of the trophy, and gold plates on the bottom showcased the scores (that’s where the “gold trophy” comes from) (mainlinemedianews.com). Additionally, bands have been involved in the game as well, especially the high schools’ bands, which paraded down Lancaster Avenue to the game for many years. Before the schools had bands, neighborhood bands would supply music (radnorhistory.org). Now, each high school’s band plays during the game and provides halftime entertainment. Some current traditions at Radnor include LM week, in which students show their Radnor pride by decorating the school and participating in the notorious pep rally.
This long-fought rivalry between Radnor and Lower Merion has been a tense battle for over a century! Currently, Radnor has won more games, with a winning record of 61-56. There have also been eleven tied games so far, seven of which were completely scoreless. Last year, LM won 56-12, Radnor’s first loss in over a decade. (radnorhistory.org) Out for redemption, the Radnor football team is ready to come back better than ever, with the support of the entire school! This year’s game will take place on Saturday, November 2 at Lower Merion High School, and it begins at 2:00. No matter the outcome, the game is always a blast – often it’s called “the game with a score and a winner, but a game with no losers”.
The Radnorite is wishing the Radnor football team the best of luck in the upcoming game on Saturday!
