The Woodbridge PBA / SOA "Bragging Rights" Trophy
by WoodbridgeFootball.com / MyCentralJersey.com / NJ.com on 08/19/16
By WoodbridgeFootball.com, August 19, 2016, 1035am
NEXT GAME: The 50th Game - (G1) Woodbridge Barrons at Colonia Patriots - September 9, 2016, 7pm
In
the early 60's, Woodbridge Township, New Jersey realized the need for
additional space for the growing population of the students in the
Township. As a result, they built John F. Kennedy HS in 1964 and
Colonia HS in 1967.
In
those early years, all three schools competed against each other on the
Football field?. Somewhere along the line, annual games pitting
Woodbridge and Kennedy were not scheduled. But, Woodbridge and Colonia
continued and they have faced off every season since 1967, the year
Colonia HS initially opened their doors.
The
rivalry is intense and deserved special attention each year. In 2003,
Det. Dean Janowski and Sgt. Charles McDevitt, both members of the
Woodbridge Police Department and parents of Woodbridge players,
convinced their unions to sponsor a trophy for the annual game. The
trophy was dubbed, the Woodbridge PBA / SOA "Bragging Rights" Trophy and
was awarded to the winning football team at the conclusion of the game.
It is engraved with the winners school name and allowed to remain in
that schools possession for one year. It is retrieved by members of the
Woodbridge PBA / SOA a few days before the next scheduled game, and
held for presentation to the new winner. Det. Mark Zeno, Sgt. Watler
Bukowski, Ptl. John Matty, and Ptlm. Tom McGovern have been the Officers
who continue the tradition and make those presentations on behalf of
the PBA / SOA in recent years.
This is the biggest rivalry game for both teams each season, so be sure to get to the field early.
