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The tradition-rich and well-attended “Battle for the Bell” football game between Edison and Fountain Valley will not be played this season, coaches from both schools confirmed.
Second-year Fountain Valley coach Mitch Olson said he decided not to play the rivalry game because the Barons are focused on development after finishing 1-9 the past two seasons.
“(We) need some time to get things going,” Olson said Monday. “(We) will revisit down the road.”
Edison defeated Fountain Valley 34-7 last season for its 21st consecutive victory in the series, which began in 1969.
The Chargers lead the all-time series 43-14-1.
Edison coach Jeff Grady expressed sadness in the halting of the game.
“I am most disappointed for our two communities,” he said Monday. “The 57-year Edison-Fountain Valley game tradition brought so much life and spirit to each campus and community along with a week’s worth of student activities leading up to the game.”
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“Each community continued to support their school and filled the stands each year,” added Grady, an alumnus of Edison. “It’s sad to see it go.”
Fountain Valley is seeking its first winning season since 2017.
The Barons drop two leagues in the Orange County Football Conference this season and next to the Lambda League, the fourth-lowest rated group.
Edison, which captured CIF-SS, regional and state titles in 2024, is part of the top-rated Alpha League.
Fountain Valley and Edison were members of the old Sunset League for decades. Both programs have rich football histories. The Barons have won two CIF-SS titles while the Chargers have claimed seven.
In 1980, Edison defeated Fountain Valley 14-0 in the CIF-SS Big Five Conference championship before 28,969 spectators at Angel Stadium.
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Please send football news to Dan Albano at [email protected] or @ocvarsityguy