What is the best rivalry in the area?

[Crimson's Ghost]

A lot of options out there.....Any input?

Bellwood-Antis-Tyrone
Bedford-Chestnut Ridge
Penn Cambria-Central Cambria
Altoona-State College
North Star-Windber-Conemaugh Township
McCort-Richland-Johnstown-Westmont


I'm sure there are plenty more. Feel free to add.

I roped the three D5 teams together because they all are rivals.
I put the four Johnstown schools together because its all one "City Championship" It seems McCort brings out the crowds from the other three schools in the city. And when the stakes are big enough the other games are highly contested with big crowds.

From strict 1 vs. 1 rival purposes I would say Bellwood-Tyrone would be top dog. So much tradition with that game. So many good teams, and no matter what it is always the first game of the season. It is a special game.

[Coach]

It seems to be in an infancy state, but Tyrone and Central have had some nice games lately.


Huntingdon vs. Tyrone had been real good with two blue collar towns packing the stands.

Portage vs Windber (maybe that's just me thinking that but it seems feisty after Portage's really great run)

Forest Hills vs Tyrone has been fun in the playoffs...that is a game the AA fans seem to want to see every year!

Northern Bedford / Tussey Mountain / Everett (this is one in our backyard)...over the last few years NB vs TM...TM beat NB a few years ago in the playoffs after NB won 34-0 in the regular season. That single game seemed to lead a little resurgence at Tussey after a few 0fer years.

[jack daniel]

McCort and Richland for me, without a doubt

[sparky]

Bedford vs ridge is an awesome rivalry in football. Hopefully they will get to continue there rivalry when chestnut ridge finally finds a conference.

[Crimson's Ghost]

From a McCort perspective, it kind of depends what part of town you live in.

Richland has come on strong the past 5 seasons, but never really considered them a rivalry before 2007. Don't think anybody from McCort did.

Westmont was always the chief rival in my eyes, but that is where I'm from. They have declined in Football over the years, but the Basketball games boys and girls are always packed gyms no matter what. Even Football, when the game is Saturday afternoon at Westy....Its always the biggest crowd of the year for that game.

Johnstown is big in both sports.

And even Forest Hills was more of a rivalry by default, McCort is good at Football. Forest Hills is too. When they play its usually a big game.

[sportsfan1000]

Pre 1990 it was Altoona-Johnstown without a doubt. Right now I would have to say Tyrone-Bellwood. In the state it very well may be Easton-Philipsburg (NJ). Ive seen before where they have played that game on a Thursday even when Easton has had a playoff game on a Friday!

How about all of western pa? Jeanette-GCC? Woodland Hills-PCC? Mcdowell-Cathedral Prep?

[jayjay6218]

Regular Season Rivalries IMO:
1. The Backyard Brawl (Tyrone v. Bellwood)
2. Forest Hills v McCort v J-Town v Westmont (This Town aint big enough for the 4 of us...)
3. Bedford v. CR
4. North Star-Windber-Conemaugh Township (Winner usually garunteed share of Conference title)
5. Tyrone (or input FH/McCort) vs. Any Regular Season Opponent
(Tyrone seems to always have a target on its back due to its continuing success, therefore each week is usually a rivalry game for someone, even if it isn't really so in Tyrone's (FH/McCort's eyes)
6. Altoona v. Hollidaysburgh (Sad it will not begin the season this year)

Playoffs:
1. Bellwood v McCort (Always a D6 instant classic)
2. Tyrone v Forest Hills (If the game isn't for the D6 Title already, the winner is almost garunteed the D6 AA Title)
3. Laurel Highlands vs. MAC
4. J-Town v Clearfield (I do believe this could be the start to a beautiful rivalry for the AAA Crown, that is if Clearfield doesn't get moved down to "AA".)

[thepalerider]

Define rivalry...for it to be a rivalry I look for the all time series to be close to .500, Ridge beats Bedford once every 15 years. Huntington wins once a blue moon over Tyrone. There is no NBC-Tussey rivalry the all time series is like 12-58 in favor of NB.

[jayjay6218]

I would say that the rivalry record does count toward something, but I believe it goes more toward atmosphere. You could have two teams that beat each other equally year in and year out, and unless there is the right atmosphere leading up to and during the game, it means nothing other than another win/loss. Remember, rivalries are more about pride than anything. You better believe Tyrone wants to beat Huntingdon every year, because if not Huntingdon is going to make sure they know it. Same with Bedford/Ridge etc...

[ramfan]

I agree with you Jayjay. It a competitive series when the wins are fairly equal but, for me its all about the pride and bragging rights.

For rivalries, for me Cone. Twp. vs Windber is big in my mind. Emotions always ran high. You needed a police escort out of the home teams town some years. An then there was always the great graffiti in each others districts.

As for a newer rivalry, being from Johnstown area. I have to say Bishop McCort vs Richland. McCort has the tradition and Richland is the new kid on the block. I think i can speak for a lot of Richland fans an say we don't care if we lose every other game. If we beat McCort.