2009 Football Preview: Stanislaus District's must-see rivalries

By Richard T. Estrada
restrada@modbee.com

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There�s no shortage of emotion when football teams take the field on Friday nights, but there�s nothing to duplicate the energy of a good rivalry.

Whether a few years in the making, or approaching a century, rivalries are built on geography, history and players.

The players in uniform battle for personal pride, as well as bragging rights for an entire city or an area as intimate as their neighborhood.

The boys in Oakdale and Sonora first played in 1922, and the game draws thousands the final week of the season.

Gridiron greats at Turlock and Modesto can do one better � they first met in 1921 and the game remains California�s longest ongoing rivalry.

So pull over your old jersey, or just sport your school�s colors, and catch one of these intense rivalries this season.

1. Davis-Downey

Series: Davis leads 29-17

Modesto�s most prominent programs, their first meeting was in 1963 and upstart Davis won the first two games 13-7 and 13-12. The rivalry has no name and no reward � other than, more often then not, being hailed the city�s top team. For years, it two of the city�s coaching legends, Davis� Don Lanphear and Downey�s Nick Chipponeri. Davis dominated during the 1990s, winning 11 in a row from 1992-2002, but the series is 3-3 since.

This year: Oct. 15 at Downey High.

2. Merced-Golden Valley

Series: Golden Valley leads 8-7

Merced was a state power in the 1980s, even winning a state title in 1990, but lost its swagger when GV opened as the city�s second high school. Merced won the initial �Battle for the Mayor�s Cup� 43-21 in 1994, then GV won five in a row. Merced is potent again, it�s won the last three meetings, and this is usually one of the area�s marquee games. The most thrilling game was in 2005: Adrian Trevino�s 27-yard field goal gave GV a 38-35 triple-overtime � sending GV to the playoffs and denying Merced a playoff spot.

This year: Nov. 23 at Merced College.

3. Turlock-Pitman

Series: Pitman leads 4-1

Last year�s battle drew nearly 8,500 fans before the gates had to be closed, leaving hundreds more to watch from outside the fence. They saw Turlock claim its first �Harvest Bowl� � upstart Pitman won the first four. Last year�s 7-0 game sent the Harvest Cup to Turlock for the first time and was a contrast to the first four years, when the two combined to score an average of 42 points. It�s a spirited rivalry: Turlock fans held up a large sign last year that read �We (heart) our teachers ... but not like that,� referring to a former Pitman teacher being sentenced for having sex with a 17-year-old student.

This year: Oct. 16 at Turlock High.

4. Oakdale-Sonora

Series: Oakdale leads 55-31-5

The district�s most intense rivalry pits one-school towns that have taken pride in their teams going back to the 1920s. They�re typically playing for at least a piece of the Valley Oak League and get overflow crowds. The record is disputed, at least by Oakdale folks, due to a forfeit in 1950 � rumor is Oakdale had an over-age player. There have been five ties, all 0-0. A key game came in 2003: In a fierce rain, Oakdale�s Matt Alfaro had 40 carries for 303 yards and five TDs in a 34-14 win. Terrible field conditions convinced Sonora to install artificial turf prior to the 2005 season.

This year: Nov. 13 at Sonora High.

5. Central Valley-Ceres

Series: Central Valley leads 2-1

Ceres won the first Crosstown Classic in 2006, but the upstart Hawks have won the last two by a combined score of 65-27. While it lacks the attraction of some other rivalries because of Ceres� recent struggles, this year promises to be exciting because the two appear similar in talent. The winner takes home a trophy.