The Great American Rivalry Series arrived in Rochester, Pennsylvania, early Friday afternoon, championship trophy in hand, ready to pump up the Rochester High School students for what would be remembered as the final pep rally for the two-decade old, Beaver County “Battle of the Bridge” game. The infamous rivalry between Rochester and Monaca, one of the biggest in the state, was coming to an end as Monaca was merging with the Central Valley school district and would no longer compete in WPIAL Class A. This last game would decide the final naming rights of the bridge that divided Monaca and Rochester, an annual ritual created by two former mayors many years ago. The Great American Rivalry Series was there to be part of history.

MVP

Terry Gettings

Rochester

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Derek Gallagher

Rochester

Derek Gallagher is captain and a three-year letterman for the Rochester football team and was a junior all–section team selection in football and baseball. He is also a member of the Student Council, National Honor Society, and the ski and diversity clubs. He is in the gifted and talented education program, is a four-year honor roll student, and serves as a class officer. He is pictured with his parents, Alan and Terri.

Brandon Schultz

Monaca

Brandon Schultz is a senior full back and middle linebacker for the Monaca High School Indians and a two-year letterman. He is also a four-year letterman on the baseball team. He is a member of the Student Council and the prom committee and serves as an instructor for the Monaca youth baseball clinic. Brandon has a 3.0 GPA. and is the son of Richard and Tracy Schultz.

HALL OF FAME

Gerald La Valle

Rochester

Former Rochester Mayor Gerald La Valle started the first “Battle of the Bridge” with Mayor Antoline in 1988. He was mayor of the Rochester Boro from 1975-1989 and is now a retired Pennsylvania State Senator. He was also a school teacher, baseball coach, and guidance counselor as well as the head football coach for Rochester for 20 years. He has held many community and political positions including Council President, Mayor, County Commissioner, County Board Chairman, and State Senator.

John Antoline

Monaca

The late John P. Antoline was mayor of the Monaco Boro for 10 years, 1982-1992. He started the first “Battle of the Bridge” in 1988. He and Mayor Gerald LaValle from Rochester placed a bet for the naming rights to the bridge and thus created the famous rivalry. Throughout John’s life, he was very active in the community and held several community service positions including Beaver County Commissioner. John was also a Monaca High School graduate and a member of the Monaca football team from 1957-1959. He was inducted into the Monaca Hall of Fame in 1998. Accepting the award posthumously was Mayor Antoline’s son and current Mayor John P. Antoline, who is also a graduate of Monaca High School, former football player, and chairman of the John P. Antoline Foundation.

GAME SUMMARY

The final "Battle of the Bridge" started early Saturday morning with a special coin toss ceremony at the bridge. Mayors, police chiefs, school superintendents, and fans, as well as players and coaches from both teams, were there to represent their cities. A friendly hand shake between the two rivals and it was time for this historical and ceremonial coin toss on the bridge. The visiting team, Monaca, called "Heads" and won the toss of the 1943 Australian shilling coin given to the game by a Monaca resident. Challenges were issued, interviews given, pictures taken and the game was on… The final Battle of the Bridge game was a much ballyhooed rivalry game for these two communities. Rochester came in undefeated and ranked 1st in the state.