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Oct 31, 2009 11:50 pm US/Eastern
Rochester-Monaca Rivalry Comes To An End
ROCHESTER (KDKA) ―
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Fans cheer in the stands at the final battle of the bridge game between Monaca and Rochester.
KDKA
The end came Saturday evening for one of the most intense high school football rivalries in the area as the final battle of the bridge was fought in Beaver County.
Every year, the game between the Monaca Indians and the Rochester Rams gave the winner naming rights over the bridge that connects the two communities.
"My dad's generation too, my generation too, my son's generation," said Joyce Barr, a Rochester resident. "This is a big deal."
The storied rivalry, which started as a wager between mayors, is ending because the Monaca School District is merging with Center to form Central Valley.
The game was emotional in the stands, on the sidelines and on the field.
"Do the best you can, don't feel bad about anything," said PJ Fossett, the father of a Monaca football player. "You win you win; if you lose, you have fun at what you're doing. I told him he's making history twice."
The winner of the game gets naming rights through the end of the school year. After that, it will be called the Rochester-Monaca Bridge on the Rochester side, and the Monaca-Rochester Bridge on the Monaca side.
"Rochester is undefeated - but our boys have something to fight for - it's bragging rights more than anything I guess at this point," said Monaca parent, Yvonne Firczak. "It's a little sad - the end of the rivalry."
With a final score of 28-0, the Rochester Rams now have the naming rights to the bridge one final time.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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