One of the benefits of an abbreviated league schedule in the Peninsula Athletic League is the preservation of important local rivalries. The biggest in San Mateo County occurs this Saturday morning (11 am) when Burlingame hosts San Mateo.
The PAL is broken up into three divisions of six teams each, meaning PAL squads use up only half their allotted 10 overall games in league play. This enables the league to preserve the tradition of schools playing their rivals on the final weekend of the season.
The "Little Big Game" has taken place almost every year since 1927, with Burlingame holding a 48-32 series advantage over San Mateo with four ties. The winner between the Bearcats and Panthers captures the Paw Trophy.
"It's impossible to diminish the stature of this game," Burlingame coach John Philipopoulos told the San Jose Mercury News. "The games are always full of drama and action packed."
San Mateo (5-4, 4-1 in PAL-Lake Division) is coming off a dramatic 21-20 win over El Camino. After opening the season slowly with losses to Gunn, Aragon and Woodside, the Bearcats finished off with wins in five of their next six games, finishing behind only first-place Capuchino in the division.
Burlingame, meanwhile, clinched a CCS playoff bid with a 31-24 win over Aragon last week. The Panthers (4-5, 2-3 PAL-Bay) will look to slow down San Mateo's top offensive threats in quarterback Taylor Sanft and running back Line Latu.
