It’s hard to imagine a rivalry game having two winners. But in some ways, that’s what happened when Ridgefield and La Center renewed their football rivalry for the Trico League title on Oct. 31, 2003.
For George Black, it was the signature win in his seven seasons as Ridgefield’s head coach. The 14-0 victory capped a 9-0 regular season and the first outright league title for the Spudders since they won the state title in 1995.
“When the horn sounded, I remember guys congratulating each other, jumping, hugging,” Black said. “There were even tears shed. This was something they had worked for all season. It was just a great rewarding feeling for them to accomplish something they had set out to do the year before.”
La Center coach John Lambert remembers Ridgefield coaches, players and parents taking photos on the Wildcats’ former home field at La Center Middle School.
“It was big deal,” Lambert said. “We had won the league the prior two years. And so I wanted the kids to remember that celebration on our field. ‘You want to see that again?’ ”
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