Both Oil City and Franklin will be playing their 130th season of high school football in 2026. Their rivalry, which also began in 1896, is one of the oldest in Pennsylvania -- not the oldest, but it's right up there.

Since both schools have had their ups and plenty of downs on the gridiron over the years, neither has reached 500 wins. Oil City, thanks to its surge since 1994, is getting close with 489 victories (by my count, which means unofficially). Franklin, thanks to its dominance from 1959-92, isn't as close with 449 wins after a miserable last 35 years or so.

The accompanying chart of selected schools is from easternPafootball.com. 

I included Mount Carmel, since it is No. 1 in the state, Aliquippa since the Oilers faced the Quips in the playoffs last season, and Southern Columbia because it's the gold standard in the state at the moment. (I was surprised that the team has existed only since 1963.)

I included every District 10 team, I think, except for Sharpsville and Farrell since neither the Knights nor the Oilers play them hardly ever.​

Anyway, y'all know Farrell is good.

DuBois and Punxsutawney are on this list. DuBois used to be in the same region as Oil City and Franklin and the Oilers played Punxsy in the state playoffs last season. Also in there is Bradford, an old on-again, off-again rival of both schools. 

And Redbank -- the Bulldogs are coached by FHS grad Blane Gold, and his teams have contributed greatly to the Bulldogs' record.

Also surprising, at least to me, is General McLane. I didn't realize the Lancers have been around as long as they have -- 1916.

I'm also surprised Fairview is right up there.

How did I come by this list? Well, it hit me that Oil City and Franklin are in a round-number year of existence. And I knew the rivalry was an old one state-wise -- not the oldest, but, again, right up there. ​

Meanwhile, Titusville's record is only 10 games better than Oil City's -- all in the loss column. Records for Oil City and Franklin were close to what I have. They have 489-564-49 for the Oilers and 448-578-45 for the Knights. A big difference is the first year for both. They have 1898 for Oil City and 1897 for Franklin. But I KNOW they first met in 1896.