This past weekend, The LM Bulldogs faced the Radnor Raiders during what is the biggest game of the year. The Aces fought though the first half of the game,
The LM and Radnor rivalry is known as the longest-running high school rivalry in Pennsylvania, spanning approximately 129 years. Many are curious about its origins, which dates back to 1897 when the two schools faced off for the first time. Since then, it has become an annual tradition for the two schools to compete against one another, carrying on this storied legacy.
The inaugural game, played on October 26, 1897, ended with a LM victory of 10-4. From then on, this football legacy has been passed down through generations, fueled by the close proximity of the schools and their competitive spirit in sports.
After the Aces secured a strong victory last year, winning 56-12, Varsity head coach Joe Augustine is eager to devise a cunning strategy to defeat Radnor once more. The LM Bulldogs faced a challenging schedule this season, holding a record of one win and eight losses, but despite the tough game the aces showed their hard work all throughout.
In discussing this season and how people felt approaching the Radnor Game Varsity Wide Receiver (WR) Chris Cook ’27 remarked, “We have been practicing since June, and coming into this year we knew we would have a tough schedule. This game means a lot to us. This is one of the biggest rivalries in the country, and we hope to excel on Saturday and claim our win two years in a row.” Fellow Varsity WR Tommy Burke ’26 also shared his thoughts, stating, “We’re playing in one of the longest high school rivalries in the country, so it’s definitely special to us. We feel really good going into it and we hope to keep the streak going.” During this game our strong captains Jace Roth ’25 , Nick Deluca ’26 , Andrew Payne ’25, and Shane Hermosisima ’25 led the team with strategy and alertness telling them the way the game should be approached.
On the contrary, Radnor entered this year confidently with a record of 3-6 and is ranked 9th in the Central League. They have a formidable roster and were well-prepared for the challenge ahead. Historically, Radnor has achieved 61 wins against Lower Merion, along with 11 ties, making this rivalry even more intense.
Going into the game, both teams faced a bitter rivalry and the immense pressure of the most attended game of the year. The game started out fierce with both teams putting in their best effort. When the halftime whistle blew, the score remained close: 13-14, Aces. With some explosive offensive firepower, and hardnose defensive stops, the Aces were still in the game. Unfortunately for the Aces, the Raptors offense was too much to handle. The Aces didn’t fall easily however, with a final score of 42-21.
The passion and intensity of this Rivalry goes just beyond the games. This tradition helps to shape both the LM and Radnor school cultures, having a whole week of Spirit, Lunch Competitions, a Pep Rally, as well as a Maroon and White game leading up to the big Homecoming game.
Many years later the significance of this rivalry still remains as strong as ever. Each year, expectations grow higher and the purpose lingers. However, no matter the outcome, this serves as a reminder of the sportsmanship and character our team should have despite any given outcome.
