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Gonzaga vs. St. John's: The 100th Meeting in Our 200th Year
On Friday, November 5th, Gonzaga Football will face St. John's under the lights on Buchanan Field -- the 100th meeting between the two schools.
Although the history of the rivalry dates back as far as 1889, the schools didn't play each other regularly until 1928. What we've come to call the "Modern Era" began on October 26, 1928, when the teams met at Georgetown University before a crowd of 2,500. Gonzaga came away a winner, 47-0. According to newspaper accounts, “relations were strained by four quarters of rough play” in their last meeting in 1921, but by 1928 the teams were “on speaking terms again.” The game would not only “mark the resumption of gridiron relations,” but would also lay the groundwork for the establishment of a prep school athletic conference later that same year. Both schools—along with Georgetown Prep and once formidable, but now long forgotten, athletic powers Devitt Prep and Emerson Institute—were founding members of a league that through many iterations is today’s WCAC. From Gonzaga's and St. John's commitment to league play, shared faith and close proximity to one another, a rivalry was born.
Although the history of the rivalry dates back as far as 1889, the schools didn't play each other regularly until 1928. What we've come to call the "Modern Era" began on October 26, 1928, when the teams met at Georgetown University before a crowd of 2,500. Gonzaga came away a winner, 47-0. According to newspaper accounts, “relations were strained by four quarters of rough play” in their last meeting in 1921, but by 1928 the teams were “on speaking terms again.” The game would not only “mark the resumption of gridiron relations,” but would also lay the groundwork for the establishment of a prep school athletic conference later that same year. Both schools—along with Georgetown Prep and once formidable, but now long forgotten, athletic powers Devitt Prep and Emerson Institute—were founding members of a league that through many iterations is today’s WCAC. From Gonzaga's and St. John's commitment to league play, shared faith and close proximity to one another, a rivalry was born.
Between 1928 and 1978, a period of 51 years, the teams met each fall. Fifty-three times without interruption, including two playoff games. In 1979 and 1980, Gonzaga stepped away from league play and this game. Gonzaga needed to regroup. After a two-year absence, the teams met again in 1981. Gonzaga achieved victory that year. And in the forty-five meetings including playoffs since, holds a 28-17 advantage. However, over the last ten games, St. John’s has won six including the 2017 WCAC Championship game.
The 99th meeting took place at the St. James Academy in Springfield, VA on April 15, 2021 with Gonzaga defeating St. John’s 13-9 to complete an undefeated 5-0 Spring Season during the Covid-19 pandemic. As the teams play the 100th meeting tonight on Buchanan Field, the record stands at 48-46-5 in Gonzaga’s favor.
You can learn more about the teams by paging through the Game-Day Program here.
The game this weekend is sold out! For those joining us in-person on Friday, click here to see a seating and concessions map. Gates will open at 4:30 PM, kick-off is at 6:30 PM. Public transportation is highly encouraged, and there will be no tickets for sale at the gate.
For those who are unable to join us on Eye Street, the game will be livestreamed on our website here.
Below is a table outlining the scores from the teams' 99 past meetings. We look forward to a great game -- the 100th Meeting in Gonzaga's 200th Year!
You can learn more about the teams by paging through the Game-Day Program here.
The game this weekend is sold out! For those joining us in-person on Friday, click here to see a seating and concessions map. Gates will open at 4:30 PM, kick-off is at 6:30 PM. Public transportation is highly encouraged, and there will be no tickets for sale at the gate.
For those who are unable to join us on Eye Street, the game will be livestreamed on our website here.
Below is a table outlining the scores from the teams' 99 past meetings. We look forward to a great game -- the 100th Meeting in Gonzaga's 200th Year!
Celebrating 200 Years of Jesuit Education in the Nation's Capital
