Presented by:
Friday night marks yet another edition of the infamous Erie Bell Rivalry between Port Jervis and Middletown. A rivalry that goes back 120 years, the Middie Bears from Middletown have won the Erie Bell Rivalry the last four years, including last year’s close-fought 24-21 victory over the Raiders from Port Jervis.
This year’s matchup for the Erie Bell has a lot to live up to. Last season’s nail biter was determined on a field goal by the Middies in overtime.
MVP
Chris Washington
Middletown
SCHOLAR ATHLETES
;)
Tyshawn Moody
Middletown
Tyshawn is a 2-year starting linebacker on the varsity football team and future 2-time wrestling team captain. He was one of the first Middies to reach the 1,000-pound club and will graduate with 15 college credits. He plans on attending college and majoring in computer science.
Steven Johnson
Port Jervis
Steven is a 2-year varsity football player. He has maintained honor roll status on top of lettering in football and baseball while also holding down a job. He is currently enrolled in 5 college courses and has plans to further his education at a 4-year college he is currently undecided on.
HALL OF FAME
William Donohue
Middletown
Billy Donohue played in the Erie Bell game as a Junior and Senior for Middletown. As a high school Junior in 1995, he helped lead his team to a shutout victory in a mud-soaked game played at Faller Field. As a Senior captain of the 1996 team, he helped lead his team to victory at Glennette Field, defeating Port Jervis 25-6. Donohue would come back to helm the Middies, posting a 4-1 record in Erie Bell games in his tenure as head coach. During this time, Middletown defeated Port Jervis on Thanksgiving 30-0, won at Glennette Field for the first time in over a decade and overcame a 19-point deficit with under 6 minutes left to win the Middie Miracle game in 2014. Although no longer coaching, Donohue continues to ensure that the legacy of this special game is remembered and carried on to the next generation of Middletown Students, Faculty and Staff.
Joe Viglione
Port Jervis
Legendary Port Jervis football Coach Vig compiled a record of 104-24-2, an 80%-win record, from 1970-1983. During those years he won 8 OCL crowns, 5 of them outright, two conference titles and went 9-3 against Middletown in this series. He would go on to coach Warwick where he would compile a record of 38-11 and win National Conference League, sectional and intersectional titles. As a DUSO head coach, his overall record was 51-48-3, including 3 titles. Vig’s overall head coaching record is 194-90-6, one of the best in New York State history. Coach Viglione worked as a teacher, athletic director, and coach for 47 years. He worked tirelessly to get scholarships for his athletes to improve their lives, and also started Pop Warner in Port Jervis.
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.