Etiwanda and Summit football will have more at stake in rivalry

Etiwanda and Summit High Schools are separated by just 3.53 miles. So it only makes sense that the Eagles and SkyHawks play for more than just bragging rights.

Starting this year they will. All the details are being ironed out but the Sept. 4 game will be called the “Fight for 15,” or some variation thereof. It is in reference to the fact that the two are opposite sides of that particular freeway.

Image result for Summit high school logo Fontana Ca

Etiwanda coach Kevin Davis, who came over after two years as offensive coordinator at Colony, graduated from Etiwanda in 1997. He also previously served as assistant there and remembers talk about establishing such a game back then.

So one of the first things he did upon getting the head job was calling Summit counterpart Nick Matheny and asking his opinion on the matter. As expected, Matheny was on board. It didn’t take much to rally support for the idea from the administration at both schools.

Summit uses Miller as its home field and Etiwanda has used Miller as its home field when playing Fontana schools, so the game will be played there.

“I took it to my guys and they really loved the idea,” Davis said. “The schools are so close the kids all know each other. Everyone loves rivalry games so why not do it?”

Last year the teams played to a 6-6 tie, the game cut short prematurely by a power failure early in the fourth quarter.

“After that game it seemed like the perfect time to start it,” Davis said.

“Last year I surprised at just how big that game was,” Matheny said. “It was a great atmosphere. The kids all know each other and the schools are close so it is a game we should keep playing.”

It will be the second game of the season for Etiwanda which opens the season against Norco on Aug. 28. It will be the opener for Summit which plays a scrimmage against Jurupa Valley, also on Aug. 28.

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