Union, RPI set to re-ignite Dutchman Shoes rivalry Saturday
TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It's the final week of the regular season for the Union and RPI football teams, and that means one thing: it's Dutchman Shoes time.
A new chapter in New York State's oldest college football rivalry will be written this weekend. Saturday's game between these two crosstown foes marks the 121st all-time meeting and the 74th battle for the Dutchman Shoes Trophy.
The hardware currently resides in Schenectady after Union's 13-7 win a year ago. Garnet Chargers first-year head coach Jon Drach is looking to keep it there, as he gets his first taste of this storied rivalry.
"To be a part of something like that is unique," said Drach. "When you coach, and you coach for a long time, those are the things that do stand out. Really excited to be a part of this rivalry."
This'll be RPI head coach Ralph Isernia's 11th Dutchman Shoes game, and he says the novelty of this matchup never wears off.
"It's always circled on your...schedule at the beginning of the year," said Isernia. "It's the one [game] that you get reminded about...every single year from your alums. It's gonna be a game that sticks with our players and our coaches for a long time. It's the one that you'll always remember."
This matchup may not look as enticing on paper as it has over the last few years. With Union at 3-6 and RPI at 4-5, this is the first time since 2016 that both teams are under .500.
But for the players, that's not taking anything away from this game.
"We're a senior-heavy team, and last year, losing at their place kinda left a sore feeling in our gut," said RPI senior quarterback Jake Kazanowsky. "To have them come back [here] this year, especially bringing the Shoes back to our house, we're really looking forward to kinda turning that season around - the narrative that's on us - and going out there and winning this game on Saturday."
"The past 10 years or so, it's always a close game, no matter if there's implications or not," added Union senior linebacker Cole DaSilva. "Both teams throw away the record book, and we go out there and we compete as best as we can. On paper, it (the matchup) may not look great, but on the field, it's something magical."
Kickoff Saturday from RPI's ECAV Stadium is slated for noon.
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