San Francisco’s Catholic rivalry schools have ongoing traditions that occur every year where the football teams compete to win a trophy. Trophies are given to the schools that win these games such as the Bruce Mahoney trophy, the Stanfel Cup, and the Gil Haskell Trophy.

The Bruce Mahoney Game is a yearly tradition where Sacred Heart Cathedral and St. Ignatius compete in rivalry games for five different sports and the Bruce Mahoney trophy is awarded to whichever school wins the most sports.

The trophy is awarded in boys’ basketball, football, and baseball, and in a 2021 addition, girls’ volleyball and basketball. This trophy is known for being a symbol of the SHC vs. SI rivalry. 

In 2023, the SI Wildcats defeated the SHC Irish 38-14 in the Bruce Mahoney football game at Kezar Stadium. 

The game attracts students from all schools, not just SI and SHC.

Adeline McGoldrick ’24, who attended the Bruce Mahoney game in 2022, said, “I got to talk with many people who I haven’t seen in a while and was able to see the schools come together for a very exciting event.”

Francesca Viray ‘26, a Sacred Heart Cathedral student, said, “Being at the Bruce was very exciting because it was a game between our rival schools. The crowd was very loud and enthusiastic so it added more to the experience.”

The trophy got its name from two students who graduated from each school: SI graduate Bill Bruce ‘35 and Sacred Heart Cathedral graduate Jerry Mahoney ‘44. 

Bill Bruce was a football player and student body president for SI. He was killed in an airplane crash after joining the Navy in World War II. 

Jerry Mahoney was a football and basketball player for Sacred Heart Cathedral. He joined the US Naval Reserve after he graduated and was on a merchant ship. The ship was sunk by a German submarine, resulting in his death. Both lost their lives fighting for the country during the war and are honored for their service.

The Bruce Mahoney has been ongoing since 1949 and will continue for many more years, so generations of students from both schools will enjoy as much as their grandparents and parents did.

Another high school rivalry football game is between SHC and Archbishop Riordan where they compete for the Stanfel Cup. It also happens every year in the fall, where the winner takes home the Stanfel Cup .

The Stanfel Cup got its name in honor of Nick Stanfel, who attended Riordan and played for the football team. He coached football at Riordan and SHC before losing his life to brain cancer at the age of 27 in 1992.

The Crusaders took home the Stanfel Cup in 2021 and the Irish took it back the following year with a victory of 38-20 at the Crusaders’ Meyer Field. 

Francesca added, “I’m amazed by my school’s spirit during these games because they show a lot of support.”

Lastly, SI and Archbishop Riordan compete for the Gil Haskell Trophy. 

The Haskell Trophy was introduced in 2015 and got its name from Gil Haskell, who graduated from SI in 1961. He coached at both Riordan and SI and is also known for being an NFL coach. Gill Haskell is seen as a role model for students at both SI and Riordan.  

At the game in 2022, both schools competed against each other for a spot in the playoffs and whoever lost ended their season. The Wildcats secured the win at J.B Murphy Field going 35-14 against the Crusaders, securing their spot in the playoffs and ending the Crusaders’ season.

This year, in 2023, at the first Riordan vs St. Ignatius’ game of the season, the Crusaders  defeated the Wildcats 41-34, taking back the Haskell Trophy.

Not only are the trophies awarded to the schools that win, but they also honor the spirit and good sportsmanship of the schools which have been going on for generations.

Riordan’s football Varsity coach Adhir Ravipati said, “These games are very important as they honor people who have represented both schools, but also are part of celebrating rivalry games with schools we have mutual respect and connections with. As a team, we aim to win these games every year and represent the game and the people we honor in the right way.”

He added, “These men the games are named after represent an opportunity for us to honor our past, people who have connections to both schools and bind us together through the game of football. It’s important to recognize those individuals and their contributions to both schools and the game we play, but also the connection between the schools.”

As of press time, the Crusaders have the Haskell Trophy, the Wildcats lead the Irish in the quest for the Bruce Mahoney, 55–20, and the Crusaders reclaimed the Stanfel Cup from the Irish on Nov. 3.