This site is about the sports doings -- mainly football -- of the high schools in Venango County, Pa. Contact:
130 years of Oil City and Franklin football (1896-2026)
Neither school on list of 500 wins,
but Oilers (489) getting close
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 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'd say go and see the full list, but after one view, you find yourself behind a paywall.
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. I was surprised not to see Titusville on that list. Both Oil City and Franklin were playing the Rockets in 1897. Well, whatever.
First years for Meadville and Warren, both of which also go way back with the Oilers, Nursery/Knights, are listed on the chart. Also on there is VC (nee St. Joe), may she RIP.
Here's how downtown Oil City looked in 1938.
Photographer Eric Elliott captures Ben Koyack against DuBois in this shot. Koyack played at Notre Dame and the pros.
Jim Shaughnessy was first team all-state in 1964 and is still remembered fondly by Oiler faithful of a certain age.
Here's how downtown Oil City looked in 1938.
Oil City Slide Show
Franklin in the 1930s. Stop lights are funny looking.
Nate Byham has his eyes on the prize against General McLane.
Joe Stewart and Red Law get together at the Franklin football reunion in 2005.
Franklin in the 1930s. Stop lights are funny looking.
Franklin Slide Show
IT WAS ALWAYS
PENN STATE BLUE
FOR LA VERDE CREW
Years ago, the late Dr. Philip LaVerde was shaking his head as he told me his sons, Tiger and Matt, then teens attending Oil City schools, would watch Penn State football games on TV and call all the plays before they were run. Where did they get this from, he seemed to be saying. Certainly not me.
Point is, both boys were huge Penn State fans. (His home room teacher told me Tiger wore a Penn State shirt to school every day.) Later on, Matt, who played quarterback for Oil City in 1995, got to see Penn State up close and personal as a preferred walk-on.
He later starred at middle linebacker for Mount Union, the Division III power, where he was teammates with some future famous football types. including Matt Campbell, now the head coach at Penn State.
Both LaVerdes coached at Franklin, and Matt later was the head man at Oil City (2008-15). Tiger moved on to Kirtland, Ohio, where he has coached eight state championship teams and many standouts, including his sons, Phil and most recently Jake.
And wouldn't you know? Jake, a QB at Kirtland, is a preferred walk-on safety at Penn State -- where he will be a classmate of cousin Steven Heise who graduated No. 2 in his class as he helped Oil City win titles in both football and basketball this past season. Derrick/News-Herald correspondent Joe Sager offers a look at the family here -- and it all starts with wiffle ball.
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Tiger LaVerde is pictured with sons Jake (left) and Phil. Tiger was Franklin's head coach from 2001-03. His brother, Matt, was an assistant at Franklin before serving as head coach at his alma mater, Oil City, from 2008-15. Tiger moved on to Kirtland, Ohio, where he is one of the nation's top schoolboy coaches.
