The Eastern Pa. Interscholastic Football Conference celebrates its 93rd birthday this year with 4 divisions, 11 sections, & 130 teams. It was once the best football conference in the state & it was tribute for teams to participate in the conference playoffs.
The PIAA state football playoffs delivered a crippling blow to the Eastern Conference playoffs plus many backyard scraps & Turkey Day games. Remember all those Turkey Day games decades ago--only a handful remain today.
What are some memorable gridiron rivalries? Pottsville-Reading & Mt. Carmel-Shamokin both go back to 1893. Shenandoah-Mahanoy City began their classic in 1899. Pottsville-Shamokin go back to 1901 & Pottsville-Mt. Carmel had 1906 for their 1st meeting.
But, there are so many others: Blue-Mt.-Schuylkill Haven, Panther Valley-Marian, Tamaqua-Panther Valley, Blue Mt.-Pottsville & Jim Thorpe-Lehighton to name a few. Name some others below.
Gone, but not forgotten are rivalry games that involved Coaldale, Lansford, Nesquehoning, Summit Hill, Blythe Twp. Kulpmont, Cass Twp. Coal Twp., St. Clair, West Hazleton, Freeland, Lourdes Regional, Cardinal Brennan (be sure to COMMENT below if we missed schools).
So, what was your most memorable high school football game? Do you miss Thanksgiving Day games & all the hype that once surrounded them? Let's hear how you feel about coal region football.
Note: pictured below is a photo of the Nesquehoning Hurricane semi-pro team. Anybody look familiar? We will have a special post on coal region semi-pro football teams later in the season.
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