10 iconic Utah high school football rivalries

Never underestimate the power of a rivalry game. It can impact coaches and players on both sidelines long after the final whistle blows silent for them.

Highland coach Brody Benson can attest to this reality. During his senior season at Granger, the Lancers knocked off crosstown rival Hunter in a close finish. Benson can still vividly remember the electric atmosphere in a stadium so packed, fans filled up the stands and the track surrounding the football field.

Even more importantly, the game's result – a 46-43 Granger win – has continued to have an impact on him many years later. It impacts how Benson prepares for the Rams' own rivalry game with East because he knows how much these types of rivalries mean to a high school football player.

"It's a neighborhood grudge match," Benson said. "I don't know if it would be any less of a game if both programs were down. The kids would still get up for that game based on them knowing each other."

Many Utah high schools can draw on rich football rivalries that excite fans across the state each fall. These contests have developed for a multitude of reasons. Playoff success can lead to a higher number of games between two specific teams. Geographic proximity can put neighboring schools in the same regions from one year to the next. Common threads like religion or academic profile can build a rivalry between two schools.

A good example of this is Judge Memorial and Juan Diego, which played an uninterrupted series in football from 2001 to 2012. The two schools shared a common thread as the only Catholic schools with prep football teams in Utah.

"We know all those kids," Judge coach James Cordova said. "We're the only two Catholic schools in town. There's not a huge Catholic community in Salt Lake. All these kids grow up playing Little League baseball, basketball and football against each other. They all go to church together. They all know each other pretty well."

Here's a look at 10 of Utah's most iconic prep football rivalries – both current and historic:

Bingham (South Jordan) vs. Alta (Sandy)
The Black and Blue Classic has offered up plenty of classic duels since it first began in 1978. Alta and Bingham faced off in the playoffs four straight years from 2006 to 2009 – including two Class 5A championship games. The Miners beat the Hawks to win the 2006 Class 5A title, while Alta returned the favor in 2008. Alta leads the series, 15-13.

Skyline (Salt Lake City) vs. Olympus (Salt Lake City)
The Titans have dominated the Battle of the Rock as of late – winning all five games since the series was revived as an annual contest in 2009. Periods of dominance have marked this rivalry. At one point, Skyline won 15 of 17 meetings during former coach Roger DuPaix's tenure. The Eagles still lead it 26-21-1 overall.

East (Salt Lake City) vs. West (Salt Lake City)
Utah's oldest prep football rivalry has not been played since 2012, but it still ranks as one of the best. The Leopards had taken control of the series before it came off the schedule, winning 11 straight from 2001 to 2012 (although the final win in that stretch was later forfeited due to an ineligible player). East leads the series overall 60-45-7.

Box Elder (Brigham City) vs. Bear River (Garland)
The Battle for the Golden Spike represents Utah's longest uninterrupted prep football rivalry. These northern Utah schools first began playing in 1923. Box Elder holds a commanding 67-25-2 lead in the series. It features the Golden Spike trophy – a railroad spike mounted on a plaque – that has been awarded to the winner since 1959.

Millard (Fillmore) vs. Delta
Southern Utah's oldest football rivalry involves a couple of its smaller schools. Delta and Millard are more known for their wrestling rivalry these days, but their battles on the gridiron have proven as equally hard-fought since the two schools first met in 1926. Millard leads the series 49-38-4, although the schools have split the last four games since the series was revived in 2011.

Judge Memorial (Salt Lake City) vs. Juan Diego Catholic (Draper)
The only two Catholic high schools that participate in Utah prep football have not met since 2012, but they created a unique rivalry in the years they played from 2001 to 2012. Many students from the two schools attend church together and have grown up together. The rivalry has favored Juan Diego, with the Soaring Eagles sporting a 10-4 record over the Bulldogs.

Bountiful vs. Viewmont (Bountiful)
Playing in different classifications for many years has not stopped this annual clash of crosstown rivals. Fans can always expect low-scoring, smash-mouth football when the Vikings and the Braves play. In 50 all-time meetings, Bountiful holds a 29-21 edge.

Dixie (St. George) vs. Cedar City
This southern Utah rivalry had its origins from several decades when Dixie and Cedar were the only high schools in their respective towns. It still remains one of the fiercest rivalries in this part of the state. Dixie leads the all-time series 51-33 and the Flyers have had the upper hand in recent seasons – winning eight of the last 10 meetings.

Highland (Salt Lake City) vs. East (Salt Lake City)
Option football fans relish the chance to watch East and Highland battle each season. Recent success from both teams has turned this into one of the more fiercely contested Utah prep football games each fall. The Rams hold a 32-24 advantage in the series, although the Leopards are 3-1 since Brandon Matich took over as East coach in 2010.

Ogden vs. Ben Lomond (Ogden)
Neither Weber County school has a reputation as a football powerhouse, but that doesn't diminish the intensity of this annual game. The Iron Horse game awards the winner a traveling trophy featuring two trains facing each other on the same track. Ogden has had the upper hand in this series, posting a 46-19 record - which includes six straight wins - since the first meeting in 1953.

John Coon covers Utah high school sports for MaxPreps. You can email him at john_coon@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @johncoonsports