Local Sports

Ike-Warren game is long time coming

EDITOR'S NOTE: With the highly anticipated Warren at Eisenhower football game set for Friday, Times Observer correspondents Steve Younger and Nate Sandberg have collaborated to write daily articles pertaining to the matchup of the Warren County rivals. Today's topic: Community members who have been part of the rivalry over the years.

With the inaugural Fall Brawl football game coming this Friday between Warren and Eisenhower, interest and excitement is high among community members and former Knights.

Each person interviewed agrees that it is a good thing for all of Warren County that the game is being played, although some people felt that it should have taken place a long time ago.

"I think of this as bittersweet, back in the late '70s and early '80s when both schools had really strong football programs, there was talk back then about having a game, even though Warren's enrollment and team were much bigger, but it never happened," said former Knights player and assistant coach David Bauer.

"I think that it is a great thing for the entire county," added 2025 Eisenhower graduate and current Mercyhurst University football player Caleb Jakubczak. "Just playing it will bring both communities together and maybe it will show how that can be bigger than the game."

Current Edinboro football player Gavin Lindemuth hopes that the game will help both schools.

"I may be jaded here, but I hope the game grows into a great rivalry and kids at both schools can get excited and more kids will want to play in it in the future," the 2025 Eisenhower graduate said.

While Eisenhower has traditionally played against bigger schools and currently play a class up in District 10, before the merger with Youngsville they were the third smallest school fielding a football team in northwestern Pennsylvania. The opportunity to play Warren was for more than just bragging rights in the community.

"I think it means a lot to Eisenhower to just go out and compete against a much larger school, the fact that it is Warren just makes it that much better," Jakubczak added.

Both Jakubczak and 2022 Eisenhower graduate and Alfred University graduate and player Conner Younger wish they had the opportunity to play Warren.

"It would have been great," Younger said. "Most of the guys playing for both schools grew up playing against each other in junior high and the Warren County Youth Football League, so there already was a rivalry building for the player."

Every former player interviewed wanted this game to happen while they played; the common denominator among most was a rivalry with Warren.

Both schools have competed against each at the lower levels for many years. At the varsity level, they first met on the wrestling mat in 1984. The basketball teams now play each other in the Eisenhower Tip-Off Tournament, but never in football until now.

With both programs currently in a building process and playoffs a distant reality for both, winning this game will mean a lot to both the players and communities for at least the next year.

Putting the game in perspective was former Knight player and 2006 graduate David Hoisington. "Anything that brings communities together to root on the next generation is something I can get excited about," he said. "It's great to have a fun new rivalry to look forward to every year."

Friday's game is more than just one night and one game, although it has been 75 years in the making. The opportunity to play in this game will create great memories, and stories for generations to come.

"That is what high school athletics should be about," a former player said.

Everyone should keep that in mind, regardless of Friday night's winner.