The Original Rivals: Lower Merion Football Ready For Radnor

Soon after ’s game with Ridley on Saturday, Aces’ coach Jon Rothberg told his team to load up for the biggest game of the year that is believed to be the longest continuous public high school rivalry in the country: Lower Merion vs. Radnor.

It goes back to the turn of the century—last century.

The Aces will travel to Radnor for a 1 p.m. Saturday game. Lower Merion will carry a 2-8 overall record and a six-game losing streak against the winless Red Raiders.

“It really gives you something to play for in the end,” Rothberg said. “I know some teams are in the district playoffs, but they’d love to play in a game like this. After the Ridley game, I told the kids as far as I’m concerned, we just got done playing 13 scrimmages, this is ‘the game.’ Everything we did is the culmination of doing for this game.”

Aces’ star tailback Ernest Pendleton is looking forward to it.

“Both schools put everything into game,” Pendleton said. “We have a pep rally, but the whole week we do little things to get ready; it is a big deal. We just hope to win the game and win the trophy back. I’m not sure what the trophy is called, no one does, I think. I just know it’s given to the winning team. Radnor won last year, they came back to beat us. I think it will be a little different this year. We have the two wins under our belts, so that’s boosted our confidence with the team and the players.”