Coloma Press Box
More than a game: Coloma and Watervliet renew a rivalry 117 years in the making
There are football games, there are big football games, and then there is Coloma versus Watervliet. For more than a century, two neighboring communities have met on the gridiron in a rivalry that means far more than the final score.
On Friday, Oct. 16, the Coloma Comets and Watervliet Panthers will once again write another chapter in one of Southwest Michigan’s most historic high school football traditions. Dating back to 1909, this rivalry has seen generations of athletes put on their helmets, lace up their cleats, and represent the communities they call home. Fathers, sons, brothers, classmates, and neighbors have all played a part in a tradition that has survived changing conferences, different generations, and countless football seasons.
This year marks 117 years since the rivalry began, with the two programs preparing for their 114th recorded meeting. But what makes this matchup special isn’t simply its longevity. It’s the pride.
