That there is little love lost between the sports teams — and, some would say, the communities themselves — of Woodward-Granger and Madrid is well known.
Perhaps the greatest emotional pull for their respective fan bases comes during football season, and long streaks favoring either team only adds to the desire to “pay those guys back” or to “keep the run going.”
Madrid had won four consecutive games over W-G until 2017, when the Hawks began their current streak, in which they have outscored the Tigers by a combined 213-41. W-G was a 33-0 winner in Madrid last season and were 49-6 victors at Hawk Stadium in 2020, site for tonight’s resumption of the rivalry.
Now, however, and going forward, more than bragging rights will be at stake.
Thanks to Dalton Construction of Madrid, the teams will contest a new traveling trophy in what is being called “The Battle For the Bridge.” The name comes from the High Trestle Trail bridge between Madrid and Woodward, an increasingly popular attraction for cyclists and tourists.
The trophy is made to resemble a portion of the span of the bridge, and will, no doubt, find a prominent place in the trophy case of the winning school for the ensuing year.
The first “Battle For the Bridge” will kick off at 7 p.m. tonight.
