St. Helens-Scappoose to resume rivalry

The two teams haven’t played football

By John Brewington

The South County Spotlight, Oct 28, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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The decades-old rivalry between St. Helens and Scappoose High Schools will likely resume next fall on the football field, and in many other sports.

Details are still being worked out, but the school’s athletic directors are working on scheduling games between the high schools for the 2010-2011 school year. Football games would likely be held the second or third games of the season. Home team will be determined as scheduling is completed for both schools.

Budgetary considerations have provided the needed impetus for putting the two schools back on the playing fields and courts again.

St. Helens High Athletic Director Ken Bailey said that with travel costs increasing, the idea of contests with Scappoose has a cost-saving appeal. Larger gates for sports such as football and basketball are also a strong inducement.

“We haven’t really had a natural rivalry (in other leagues) for the past few years,” Bailey said. “We didn’t have one in the Three Rivers League, and haven’t had one in the Northwest Oregon Conference. With Scappoose we renew that rivalry. For one, it cuts down on travel, and number two, the gate (is larger). We usually get a pretty big crowd and that will offset dollars for Scappoose and St. Helens.”

Scappoose Athletic Director Jim Jones concurred, “In the past it’s been a great community event for both (schools). The last one I remember–down in St. Helens–it was a fun night with a ton of people out, a great (football) game. And it’s just a seven-mile trip. There’s a little bit of rivalry, but it’s a friendly rivalry.”

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