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Rivalry Games

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Rivalry games, everyone has them.  From Dubois vs Mount Joy to Mova vs Dauphin County.  These games are what makes football exciting.  Players every year circle that game on their calendars and it means that much more to win that game.

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What makes these games even better is when a trophy is involved.  Whether its a lump of coal, a milk jug, a helmet, or an actual trophy players love making games mean something.

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In 2010, the Elizabethtown Mustangs and Mount Joy Cyclones created the Battle of Lancaster until 2013 when the Mustangs left the GEFA for another league.  The winner would receive a helmet that featured each team.

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In 2012, after the tragic injury of Rob Marrero, the Mountain Top Reapers and Panther Valley Breaker Boys played in the Rob Marrero Bowl until both teams merged in 2016.

 

In 2014, Justin McNulty created the Coal Bowl, an annual game that played for a lump of coal between the Schuylkill County Predators and the Anthracite Diamondbacks.  Then later switching out the Diamondbacks for the Haven Warhawks before settling with the Coal Region Tigers.

 

In 2016, then Warriors owner Tyler Gates decided to create a "Best in the Northeast" trophy game between the Wilkes-Barre Warriors and the NEPA Shock.  Then in 2023 when the Shock were no more replaced them with the Hazleton Mustangs.

 

In 2019, newly elected President James Simerson decided to bring back the old Penn/Jersey history by creating the Penn/Jersey Showdown with former League Founder, John Thellion as the NEPA Shock faced off against the Monmouth Rage.

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Here is the history of each historic "trophy" game.

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BATTLE OF LANCASTER

OVERALL RECORD: Mustangs lead 3-1

ROB MARRERO BOWL

OVERALL RECORD: Tied 2-2

COAL BOWL

OVERALL RECORD: Predators lead 4-1

BATTLE OF THE NORTHEAST

OVERALL RECORD: Shock leads 4-3

PENN/JERSEY SHOWDOWN

OVERALL RECORD: Shock leads 3-0

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