Can Hoban make it 10 in a row over St. V-M?

The rivalry between Archbishop Hoban and St. Vincent-St. Mary continues at 7:30 Saturday at the Rubber Bowl when the two Summit County parochial schools meet on the football field.

The Knights have dominated the series with victories over the Fighting Irish the past nine seasons. Since the series was renewed in 1996, Hoban has won 10 of 11 and leads the all-time series 17-13.

Between 1978-1995 the rivals did not play football against each other because of a strong amount of tension and mutual consent. The rivalry was renewed in 1996 and has been one-sided. St. V-M led the series 12-7 when the schools played from 1959-1977. St. Vincent and St. Mary merged into one school in 1972.

St. V-M enters the game with a 3-0 record after defeating Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Clear Fork and Highland. Hoban is 1-2 following a win over Garfield and losses to Walsh Jesuit and Youngstown Cardinal Mooney.

Recent history favors Hoban, but St. V-M is currently the hot team. The Shillelagh Trophy has belonged to the blue and gold the past nine seasons. Can the green and gold earn it back?

Here are the scores between Hoban and St. V-M from 1996 to 2006, according to Beacon Journal records:

2006 Hoban 10-6
2005 Hoban 20-13
2004 Hoban 32-28
2003 Hoban 23-7
2002 Hoban 17-10
2001 Hoban 15-13
2000 Hoban 19-7
1999 Hoban 21-13
1998 Hoban 21-20
1997 St. V-M 21-13
1996 Hoban 24-0

So the question entering Saturday's matchup is: Can Hoban make it 10 in a row over St. V-M?

Let us know what you think.