One of the longest high school football rivalries in the city will take place Friday at Morgan State’s very own Hughes Memorial Stadium for their 130th meeting.  

The game between the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute Engineers (Poly) versus the Baltimore City College Black Knights (City) is highly anticipated. Last year City beat Poly by a score of 22-18.  

This historical rivalry was originally played on Thanksgiving and at the Baltimore Ravens M&T Banks Stadium.  

After 1993, Baltimore City Public Schools joined the Maryland Public Secondary Athletic Association (MPSSAA), which shortened the season. Since then, this historical rivalry is now played on the first Saturday in November. 

This will be the third time Morgan has hosted the game between the schools.  

“The decision to host high school games will be determined on a year-to-year basis depending on our schedule, on the Ravens schedule,” said Kenny Byrne, the Ravens Vice President for Public and Community Relations. 

Although the location has been switched many alumni and current students are still excited. 

“City versus Poly is one of the most anticipated events of the school year. Go City!” said Shelia Moser, who is an R&B artist and alum of City.  

The competition between the school’s dates to 1889, and it has been played continually every year except 1902. 

During the early years, City dominated the rivalry until 1908, when Poly recorded their first victory over City, a year removed from the game ending in a tie in 1907. 

Poly dominated the series in the 1910’s. The only lost they faced against City was in 1912. Poly would go on to win 9 straight consecutive games until 1922.  

In the 1950’s under historical Poly coach Bob Lumsden, of whom their current stadium is named after, won five consecutive games against City finishing with a record of 9-1 for the decade.  

City would pick themselves up again in the following decade under coach George Young. Young coached six straight wins over Poly.  

Poly would respond again with 17 straight victories from 1970 to 1987. This is still the longest win streak in this rivalry. For City to put an end to a dreadful losing streak City was able to pull off one of the most memorable plays in the rivalry’s history. 

“They play,” is what players from both teams call it.  

The 1990s to present day is like the old days in this rivalry with both teams winning back and forth, and no one really taking hold of the rivalry.  

This season Poly will arrive on the field with a record of 2-7 while City’s football program will arrive with a record of 2-7 also. This game also will end either team’s losing streak. 

“We are definitely going to win, they beat us last year, but we weren’t that good. City is trash, even though we not too much better,” said junior Brandon Williams as he wore a Poly sweatshirt. “We got something they don’t have and that’s heart. We going to win.”