Oregon City, OR: August 27, 2015 – The Great American Rivalry Series is proud to announce
that it will feature the historic “Battle for the Bridge” rivalry between the Oregon City
Pioneers and the West Linn Lions, claimed to be the longest continuously played prep
football rivalry west of the Mississippi, in the Series’ third weekend of games for 2015. This
year will be the 95th meeting between the two teams and will be presented by the United
States Marine Corps and played on Friday, September 4 in Oregon City’s Pioneer Memorial
Stadium. Featuring some of the longest running rivalries in high school football, the 2015
Great American Rivalry Series will feature 100 showdowns nationwide. All of these great
games come with great football, hard earned sweat and a heavy dose of hometown pride.
For the 12th year, the Great American Rivalry Series has selected an exclusive collection of
top-notch rivalries across the country, covering 40 states and over 100 cities throughout the
country. Wrapped in tradition, these annual battles excite entire communities, while
celebrating the schools, their teams, and their fans. We Know Friday NightsTM
Series founder Rick Ford notes that, “With all the traditions of these games including bonfires,
pep rallies, and parades, high school football has brought communities together to watch their
teams compete in these classic battles for more than a hundred years.”
This storied Oregon Rivalry game began in 1921 when the Oregon City Bridge was built over
the Willamette River and the Battle for the Bridge Rivalry Game was born. The winning team
lays claim to the bridge until the next game. This rivalry game has been played annually 94
times since then and has also led to an annual charity matchup between alumni from the two
teams, which raises funds for Cystic Fibrosis. Oregon City leads the series 50-43-1.
The Oregon City-West Linn game was selected as one of the top 100 must-see match ups for
the 12th Annual Series. The winning team earns year-long bragging rights and the bridge
named after the school for the year. They will also take home the Great American Rivalry
Series Champions trophy, presented by the Marines. The game’s Most Valuable Player and
the top student-athlete from each school are also recognized as part of the Series. Along with
these awards, an alumnus from each school will be inducted into the 12th class of the Great
American Rivalry Series Hall of Fame.
“We are excited to partner once again with the Great American Rivalry Series,” said Leroy
Pennington, Marketing Specialist for the United States Marine Corps “The elite status of this
Series fits perfectly with the Elite Warrior brand of the Marine Corps and we are proud to
stand alongside these outstanding young athletes.”
You can find more information at GreatAmericanRivalry.com or through the Series’ Twitter
(@AmericanRivalry), Facebook, YouTube and Instagram accounts. Previews and past results
will be posted throughout the season with details of the teams and the history of the rivalries,
and after the game. Fans can relive the excitement with photo galleries and game recaps.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can add to the intensity of the rivalry via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram using
#GreatAmericanRivalry. The Rivalry can also be found on Pinterest (AmericanRivalry) and
YouTube. Fan photos posted with this hashtag may be featured on the Great American
Rivalry Series website’s new Fan Photo Gallery, Pinterest Page and promoted via our other
social media outlets.
ABOUT THE GREAT AMERICAN RIVALRY SERIES
In 2004, iHigh, Inc. (now known as BrainBox Intelligent Marketing) created the Great
American Rivalry Series to celebrate this uniquely American sport and the cultural
phenomenon of “Friday Night in America.” In 11 years the Series has gone to more than 500
games in 40 states and continues to shine the spotlight on top high school football rivalries
across the nation, where long-standing traditions are valued, expectations are sky-high, and
fans are committed.
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For more information, please call 859-948-5616 or visit www.greatamericanrivalry.com. To
schedule a phone interview with Series founder, Richard A. Ford, please email
david.kravetz@bbim.com.
