By Peyton Beach & Shannonmarie Gill with contributors Evan Sampson and London Westlyn
The Poly-City football game is the oldest rivalry within Maryland public schools and the second oldest in the country, dating all the way back to 1889. The first game was held at Clifton Park in north east Baltimore where Poly took home the first win and started the game’s 137-year legacy. Since then, it’s been an ongoing back and forth win streak for both of the schools. Poly’s last win was in 2012.
This school year, hope seemed to align with how long students have attended Poly. 71.2% of freshmen thought Poly could win the game this year, with only 28.8% of seniors being hopeful. Based on the previous data, those who have spent the most time at Poly are less likely to believe in the school’s ability to win this year’s Poly-City game. This decline in hope can be attributed to the students having already experienced multiple losses in person. The continued disappointment faced seems to have slowly chipped away at their hopefulness.
The current Poly football players, however, never wavered in their belief that Poly could win this year, saying, “We’re better than them! We look good, and we’ve had a pretty good season so far.” The players credit the efforts of the coaching staff this year and how they have put players into positions where they will thrive.
For many Poly students, this year’s Poly-City game is their last big feel of football: their last time feeling the heat of the field, the lights as the cheers of hundreds echo through the stadium, the weight of scouts’ watchful eyes on their shoulders as they catch a glimpse of changing history as it’s being made. Students, alumni, the band, the cheerleaders, are all there to show support.
Ms.Christina Williams, Poly class of 2013, believed that Poly could put an end to the losing streak this year. Ms.Williams was present in 2012 at the first game in the losing streak. “My senior year was the first loss, and it was very chaotic. A boy snatched a girl’s wig running up the bleachers. The score was zero-something, the mascot took the head of the parrot off and dropped to her knees and started crying. I sympathised with her because my year was supposed to go off with a bang.”
Director Sawyer, class of 1983, always believes that Poly can win. According to him, Poly has gone through several changes over the past decade that have contributed to the length of the losing streak. One primary factor being the several changes in coaches as the school searched for one that fits the team dynamic, with 4 coaches during the last 12 years. Mr. Sawyer has a lot of memories of the Poly-City games, from the time that he started here to when he graduated. “We never lost. My biggest memory was when Poly v City was also played at the JV level because City didn’t have a varsity team that year, they were going through renovations (1979).” According to Mr.Sawyer, this year looks promising because, “New mascot costumes, new winning streak!”
On Saturday, November 1, 2025, the oldest public-school football rivalry in Maryland -the annual matchup between Poly and City – lived up to its billing. With a final score of 41-36, the Engineers City’s long winning streak and reclaimed a victory. Right from the opening whistle, both teams signaled their intent to make this another chapter in rivalry lore. Poly came out with energy, City matched the intensity, and the back-and-forth would carry through the game’s final minutes. Poly’s quarterback and skill-players made timely plays, especially when it mattered most – key third-down conversions, explosive runs, and timely receptions helped tilt the momentum their way. City hung around the margin through gutsy drives and big plays of their own, only to see the Engineers hold firm when it counted. Defensively, both sides had their moments. Poly’s team produced critical stops in the fourth quarter that stopped City’s comeback hopes. On the other side, City’s defense produced several highlight plays – turnovers and near-turnovers – that kept the game within reach until the final whistle. The 41-36 margin reflects how closely contested this year’s game was. Beyond the scoreboard, the atmosphere was electric. Alumni, students, and longtime supporters of each school packed the stadium, reaffirming the significance of this rivalry that has been ongoing since 1889. This year’s win allows Poly to end the current drought and shift the story heading into next season, while City will return to the drawing board with plenty to learn from a fiercely competitive outing.
The Poly vs City tradition is truly something special for it to reach across generations and be talked about all throughout Baltimore. Despite the foundation of the games being built on rivalry, at the end of the day, after each win or loss, both sides come together to form a beautiful community. There is even a tailgate where alumni from both sides hang out before, during, and after the game. Hatred holds no place within the community created between students and alumni alike from either school. Ultimately, we hold nothing but respect and appreciation for our City brothers and sisters.
