This is one of America’s oldest rivalries and the oldest in New York with the first contest played in 1897 at “Skinners Grounds” in Port Jervis. The teams played each year until 1970. Port Jervis won that first game 38-0. The 2016 game marks the 137th game and the 62nd Bell Game. The Erie Bell Trophy got started in 1953 with the Middies taking it home after winning 26-14. Since then it has been given to the winning school each year. In 2014 the Middies won what has since been dubbed “the Middletown Miracle” after trailing by 19 with only 5 minutes left, yet coming back to win 36-33 in a Great American Rivalry Series game.

MVP

Jordan Bryan
Middletown

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Reggie Steed

Middletown

Reggie is a returning Varsity Football player. He is an active member of Youth in Government and is on the All-Academic team for Middletown High School. He is also a projected starter on defense and is a major contributor on offense and special teams as well.
Jake Stanzl

Port Jervis

Jake is a 2 year starter for the Raider football team and will participating in his 2nd Erie Bell game. Jake also participates in baseball and he is a member of the National Honor Society and has participated in many community service projects. He plans on attending college and majoring in business.

HALL OF FAME

Frankie Molina

Middletown

Frankie was a member of the Middletown Varsity Football team from 08-10. He was a standout on both sides of the ball as both a safety and wide receiver. After dealing with a horrible personal tragedy, Frankie made a decision to dedicate himself to football and had arguably one of his best games on September 20th 2008. This game was significant for several reasons. It was the first game played in the new Faller Field Complex and this game marked the first time in eleven years that Middletown took home the Erie Bell. Early in the game, Frankie caught a pass in the end zone for the game’s lone touchdown and helped seal the victory late in the game with an interception. Frankie’s heroic actions were truly a sight to behold and rank as one of the Classic Port game performances of all time.
Bob Corvino

Port Jervis

Coach Bob Corvino, in 1973 started out as an assistant coach in Port Jervis and assumed the head coaching position in 1984. As the head coach of the Raiders for 24 years he had 12 football titles with a 161-70 overall coaching record making him the winningest coach in Port Jervis football history. His record in the Erie Bell game 15-9 with 11 straight victories over Middletown from 1997 to 2007. His fondest memories of the Port Jervis – Middletown rivalry was competing against Middletown coaching legend and his best friend in coaching Dick Wolslayer.

GAME SUMMARY

Middletown was dominant on both sides of the ball and senior running back Jordan Bryan ran for 316 yards and three touchdowns on 22 attempts in a 42-0 win over Port Jervis in the annual Erie Bell game on Friday night. The bell remains in Middletown for the third straight season. In 2015, Bryan started taking direct snaps at halftime as Middletown rallied for an Erie Bell game win on the road. Two years ago, Middletown rallied for three touchdowns in the final 5:37 to storm back from a 19-point deficit. There was no drama on Friday night as Middletown pulled away early for a rare comfortable win in this rivalry that dates to 1897.

GAME GALLERY