news

What is the best high school football rivalry in North Jersey?

VaselineJuly 2, 2024

2 5 minutes read

What is the best high school football rivalry in North Jersey?

It’s officially July, which means it’s time to start thinking about high school football in North Jersey.

Three summers ago, we surveyed fans across the state to determine the top 25 high school football rivalries in North Jersey and the top 65 rivalries in the entire state.

Of the 25 rivalries on our North Jersey list, which do you think is the best rivalry in the area? Vote in the poll at the bottom of this page.

Voting is possible until Sunday, July 7.

Bergen Catholic vs. Don Bosco

If it weren’t for each team’s secondary rivalry with St. Joseph, this might well have been No. 1 in our 2021 survey. The Ironmen and Crusaders were Thanksgiving rivals from 1958-88 and are now both nationally recognized programs that face each other annually — sometimes twice if they meet in the playoffs — in front of packed houses.

Clifton vs Passaic

The Indians and Mustangs last played their Thanksgiving Day game in 2019, ending a tradition that dates to 1992. But fans of both Passaic County schools still considered each other their biggest rivals in our 2021 survey.

Cresskill vs. Hasbrouck Heights

Fans of both teams said they have multiple rivals, but – by a narrow margin – both teams considered each other their biggest rival in our 2021 survey. The two teams have met 47 times, including a memorable 2016 state playoff game won by Hasbrouck Heights. Cresskill now teams with Emerson.

Dumont vs. Tenafly

This was the No. 1 rivalry in our 2021 survey. One of two remaining Thanksgiving Day rivalry games in Bergen County, these teams have played every year since 1949 except 2020. Dumont has won every game in this series since 2014.

Eastside vs Kennedy

The two Paterson public schools have a Thanksgiving tradition dating back to 1925, when Kennedy was known as Central High School. It’s the last remaining Thanksgiving game in Passaic County, so it’s no surprise that fans of both schools universally considered each other their biggest rivals in our 2021 survey.

Fort Lee vs. Cliffside Park

These teams, located a few miles apart on Palisade Avenue, have faced each other 21 times on Thanksgiving Day. They now both play in the Ivy Division of the Super Football Conference. Cliffside Park is now affiliated with Ridgefield, another nearby school.

Garfield vs Clifton

Though they haven’t played each other since 1982, fans of both teams — particularly Garfield fans — still valued the rivalry in our 2021 survey. The schools are just three miles apart, and these longtime programs faced off every year on Thanksgiving Day from 1937 to 1970.

Hackensack vs Teaneck

This was the No. 2 rivalry in our 2021 survey. One of two Thanksgiving Day rivalry games remaining in Bergen County, the Highwaymen and Comets have met every year since 1932, except for 2020. The rivalry has been lopsided in recent years, as Teaneck hasn’t won since 2012.

Hasbrouck Heights vs. Wood-Ridge

Though they haven’t met since 2011, Blue Devils fans ranked the Aviators as their biggest rival in our 2021 survey. The schools are less than two miles apart, and the programs met every Thanksgiving Day from 1938 to 2009.

Indian Hills vs. Ramapo

It’s been a long time since this was a competitive rivalry, but they’re still sister schools. Fans have not forgotten that they played on Thanksgiving Day every year from 1964 to 2008.

Lakeland vs West Milford

It’s usually pretty quiet in northwest Passaic County, but not when these two teams square off. Lancers and Highlanders fans ranked each other as their biggest rivals in our 2021 survey, and stadiums are packed when they face off. They’ve faced each other 58 times, since 1962.

Lodi vs. Garfield

Fans of both teams ranked each other as their biggest rival in our 2021 survey, honoring a rivalry that dates back to 1954. They’ve played each other every year since 1986 and currently compete in the same division of the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference.

Mahwah vs Ramsey

The Rams and T-Birds played each Thanksgiving from 1964-83 and 1994-2009. They still play each other every season and challenge each other for the Super Football Conference American Red Division title.

Mahwah vs Westwood

The first time these two programs met was in 2006, but their rivalry has grown since then. They play in the same division of the Super Football Conference, and in 2016 the T-Birds defeated the Cardinals for a state title.

Old Tappan vs Pascack Valley

Panthers fans ranked the Golden Knights as their biggest rival in our 2021 survey. They’ve played each other 50 times, including every year since 1999.

Paramus vs. Ridgewood

The Spartans and Maroons, who live in neighboring cities, played every year on Thanksgiving from 1984-88 and 1999-2013. While that tradition has ended, both teams still circle this game on the calendar.

Park Ridge vs. Emerson

These small schools team up in many sports, but they have kept their football programs separate. They have faced each other almost every year since 1986, including as Thanksgiving Day rivals from ’86 to 2009. Emerson now teams up with Cresskill and competes in a different division of the NJIC.

Pascack Hills vs Pascack Valley

These sister schools were rivals on Thanksgiving Day from 1970 to 2001. They haven’t played each other since that 2001 game, but fans of both teams still consider each other rivals in our 2021 survey.

Passaic Valley vs. Wayne Valley

These Passaic County neighbors were Thanksgiving Day rivals at various times, and they still play each other nearly every fall. Hornets fans unanimously ranked the Indians as their biggest rival in our 2021 survey.

Ramapo vs. River Dell

This rivalry really heated up when the two teams met for five straight years in both the regular season and the playoffs, from 2014 to 2018. In 2020, the Golden Hawks ended the Raiders’ 26-game winning streak, which dated back to 2017… when River Dell defeated Ramapo at Giants Stadium

Ramapo vs. Wayne Hills

Fans of both teams rated this rivalry as their school’s top rivalry in our 2021 survey. The rivalry really took off when the Raiders and Patriots met in several big postseason games in the ’90s and 2000s.

River Dell vs Westwood

The Cardinals and Golden Hawks are in adjacent school districts and have played each other 43 times, including Thanksgiving games from 1994 through 2003. The games are often close, with 11 games decided by seven points or less.

Saint Joseph vs. Bergen Catholic

Fans of St. Joseph, Bergen Catholic, and Don Bosco all named each other as their top two rivals in our 2021 survey. Most Green Knights fans named the Crusaders over the Ironmen as their top rival.

St. Peter’s Prep vs. Bergen Catholic

St. Peter’s Prep fans named Bergen Catholic their biggest rival in our 2021 survey. The two non-public powerhouses have a long history of facing off in major postseason play and have competed in the same division of the Super Football Conference for multiple years.

Wayne Hills vs. Wayne Valley

The rivalry between these sister schools has been brewing for the past decade. In 2016, the Patriots defeated the Indians by a single point in the regular season and then won an overtime thriller in the state title game at Giants Stadium. In 2019, the Indians got revenge with a first-round victory en route to a title.

To vote!

Note: If you are unable to view the poll, try refreshing the link or clearing your browser cache. If you are viewing the poll in the Twitter app, try viewing it in the Varsity Aces app or on NorthJersey.com.