Diamonds Are Forever In Football Rivalry

Whether a game will become a rivalry is tough to predict, as a number of factors go into the competitive – and even combative – nature of high school football.

Players, coaches and fans in Diamond Bar will have a front-row seat to the makings of a football rivalry Friday night, as Diamond Bar High takes on Diamond Ranch High for the inaugural Mayor’s Cup.

The winner, presumably can claim city dominance and a newly-designed trophy.

“What’s great about Diamond Bar having two great varsity football teams is that we have twice the opportunity to score championships that bring positive recognition to our youth and our community,” Diamond Bar Mayor Steve Tye said.

But, wrapped within the football and emotions, there is a quick geography lesson – Diamond Ranch isn’t in the city of Diamond Bar. It’s in neighboring Pomona.

“I’d been calling them Pomona Ranch and that got a lot of anger,” Diamond Bar athletic director Kurt Davies said, tongue in cheek. “With that being said, Diamond Ranch has a great program, a legendary coach in Roddy Layton and we know we’ll have our hands full.”

A Diamond by any other name…

While the two teams are now natural rivals in the Hacienda League, they had not been city rivals. Nor have they played each other in any sport very often. The two football teams tried to get a game together in 2006, but Diamond Ranch had to bow out, Davies said. They played against each other for the first time last season, with Diamond Ranch winning the Hacienda League game, 41-0.

In reality, the land for Diamond Ranch High School was annexed from the City of Industry, and lies predominantly in Pomona. They are a member of the Pomona Unified School District, while Diamond Bar High is in the Walnut Valley Unified School District.

Another challenge in building the rivalry is Diamond Bar already has a long-standing rivalry game with Walnut High, complete with pep rallies and back-and-forth banter among the schools. Brahmas coach Ryan Maine said his first concern is what happens on the field, not the hoopla around it.

Diamond Ranch coach Roddy Layton grew up in Diamond Bar and said people have been anxiously waiting for this rivalry to begin.

“The reason I always wanted this game, is that these kids all played together in youth basketball and Pop Warner as kids. Now, they go to different high schools just because of a boundary line,” Layton said. “Whenever you know someone that well and can play against them, that’s the fun part. There’s a little more excitement and energy. It’s what Friday night football should be.

“Their fans are my friends too. Both sides want to play with class and when it’s done, go across the field and shake hands with their friends.”

Game time is 7 p.m. at Diamond Bar High School, 21400 Pathfinder Road., Diamond Bar.