Bisbee-Douglas rivalry wins Arizona portion of USA Today

Fans of both the Bisbee Pumas and Douglas Bulldogs have set aside their rivalry to help each school win a cash prize of $10,000 which is being offered by the USA Today as part of a contest picking out the nations top football rivalry.

Just last week Douglas and Bisbee was named the top football rivalry in the state finishing with 52,690 votes ahead of second place Show Low vs. Blue Ridge which had 50,684.

With the state win the Bisbee-Douglas rivalry has now advanced to the regional level. From there four will be selected for the national level.

The winner of the national contest will win the cash prize of $10,000 to be divided between the two schools, national bragging rights and the opportunity to showcase their 2013 game on national TV. The top two national winners will have their games televised live by USA Today Sports. Additionally, the winning schools will be presented with a trophy that will be kept each year by the winning team.

As of press time Monday the Bisbee vs. Douglas rivalry had 37 percent of the votes at the regional level while Carson City, Nev. vs. Douglas High School of Minden, Nev. was second with 19 percent.

Voting ends today.

Voting for the national level begins on Thursday, Dec. 13 and ends Wednesday, Dec. 19.

The 2013 match up between Bisbee and Douglas will be played at the Historic Warren Ballpark.

Since 1906, six years before Arizona became a state, the two teams have battled. Bisbee won the first game 7-6 and Douglas won this last game 31-14.

Originally played twice a year, with a conference game on Armistice Day and a final battle on Thanksgiving, the rivalry continues to this day. It is the longest series in number of games played in Arizona history.

It is also the second oldest rivalry in the nation behind Connecticut, New London and Norwich Academy, which first met in 1875.

To cast your vote/votes go to www.usatodayhss.com.

You can vote multiple times and that is highly recommended.