Easton-Phillipsburg football game canceled
Rival teams have met every year except 2 since 1905
One of the great traditions in Lehigh Valley sports has become another victim of the coronavirus pandemic.
One day after announcing the 114th edition of the Easton-Phillipsburg football rivalry had been moved from Thanksgiving to Saturday, the schools announced that the game is canceled because of executive orders in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that called for interstate travel restrictions, and a “rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in both states.”
“We understand this is extremely disappointing news for the many passionate Stateliner and Red Rover fans that been attending this game for decades,” the statement said. “This was not an easy decision or one taken lightly by either district. However, given the restrictions in place in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey as well as the current COVID-19 realities on both sides of the river, the health and safety of our players, coaches, bands, cheerleaders, staff, fans and both communities must guide our decisions.”
On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Health Department issued new restrictions that require anyone
coming into Pennsylvania have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before entering the state or quarantine for 14 days.
Also, more strict mask-wearing mandates were announced that would require all participants to wear masks at all times.
The game has been played every year since Easton’s 26-0 win in 1905, except for two years, 1912-13. It regularly draws sellout crowds to Lafayette College’s Fisher Field for the mid-morning kickoff and has been played in sunshine, snowstorms, rain and bitter cold. Families from both sides of the river make a day of it and ESPN twice televised the game, in 1988 and 2006.
The news that the 114th game was canceled was a surprise at first and then extremely disappointing as it sunk in.
“I know there was some talk about maybe playing the game [Thursday] to get ahead of the new Pennsylvania restrictions,” Easton coach Jeff Braido said. “Whatever chance we had to play, I would have done whatever it took. A lot of the kids already knew by the time we got them together. We sat up in the gym and told them, and it wasn’t easy. I feel terrible for the kids that they have to miss out on this tradition, no matter what day the game was scheduled to be played.”
Braido said he felt fortunate Easton was able to play seven games.
“No matter the wins and losses and how the season went, there was a time when it looked like we might not play at all,” he said. “To get seven games in was a testament to our kids doing the right thing and making sure they didn’t get sick.”
Braido, whose team finished 3-4, said he doesn’t know what he’ll do on Thanksgiving because for the first time in decades he won’t have a game to prepare for.
“I played in this game in 1985, ’86 and ’87 and I started coaching in 1993, so this game has been a big part of my life,” he said. “I understand the decision and
support the decision because in the grand scheme of things, you have to look out for the safety and well-being of the kids. That sentiment doesn’t make it any better for our kids, especially the seniors. But I back it 100% because you can’t mess with people’s lives.”
Not everyone agreed that it was the right thing.
“Cancelling this game proves how out of hand this virus has gotten,” tweeted Tommy Coury, a 2019 Stateliners captain. “People living in fear of something happening instead of simply living. Nobody should live based off fear and this game has never been played in fear. It is beyond selfish to cancel this game.”
Coury added that this decision was made by people who already have had their high school experience.
“Grown adults are making decisions for those who haven’t gotten to ‘live’ yet,” he said. “You are taking away the moments that make up life for these young men; to laugh with their teammates, to smile with each other and play the game they love and defend the pride of their own respective communities.”
The game was moved last month from its traditional home at Lafayette College’s Fisher Stadium to Phillipsburg’s Maloney Field. Due to COVID-19 concerns, spectators were going to be limited to parents of the participants.
Additionally, the Phillipsburg-Easton field hockey and soccer contests that were scheduled for Thursday have been canceled.