Mike Mastovich | Four local high schools, one trophy: City Championship football series heats up

The City Championship trophy was displayed at Bishop McCort Catholic High School throughout the football offseason. The trophy returned to Thomas Automotive on Eisenhower Boulevard Wednesday as part of a luncheon to kick off the second year of the rebranded rivalry among city high schools Bishop McCort Catholic, Greater Johnstown, Richland and Westmont Hilltop. “Winning it last year was awesome for us,” said coach Tom Smith, whose Crimson Crushers claimed the silver football-shaped trophy after going 3-0 in the 2025 series, "but it’s a new year now. We held that trophy in our school for a couple of months. You’d walk in the door and everyone could see it. Now, it goes to whoever wins this year’s series. We’re looking forward to the competition and the opportunity to try to win it again.” The city rivalry predates the latest, sponsored version of the series. Thomas Automotive’s Ken Salem, the former Bishop McCort football coach, had a significant role in the Richland Township dealership's sponsorship in the series a year ago. Top performers Salem addressed four coaches and four players representing their respective schools at Wednesday’s luncheon. His message resonated. “I’m glad we have a trophy now for the series even though we always had a rivalry going,” said Richland standout receiver/defensive back Arnold Mugerwa, a Rutgers University commit. “It means a lot to be able to put on for the city and to be competing for that trophy.” Richland is 22-1 in the series since 2018. The lone loss came against McCort-Carroll Catholic in front of a large crowd at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point Sept. 11, 2025. The Crushers' victory paved the way for Bishop McCort to claim the series title after a win over Westmont Hilltop later in the season. Bishop McCort posted a 128-18 scoring margin in the 2025 City Championship series. City Championship Football Trophy 2026 The 2026 City Championship Series football trophy. “It’s really fun to have so many schools that are so competitive and so close,” Crimson Crushers quarterback/defensive back Bentley Bainey said. “You get to play against your friends, but on the field, you lock in. “It’s one of the goals that we have. It’s cool to be able to have the trophy and hopefully bring the trophy back again.” City Championship football series players 2026 Standing behind the 2026 City Championship football series trophy, from left: Richland's Arnold Mugerwa; Westmont Hilltop's Landen Valente; Greater Johnstown's Stephon Hill-Goodman; and Bishop McCort Catholic's Bentley Bainey. This season's series kickoff luncheon was held Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Thomas Automotive, sponsor of the series, in Richland Township. Westmont Hilltop versatile playmaker Landen Valente appreciated the opportunity for the Hilltoppers to bounce back after going winless in the series the past two seasons. “It’s awesome to be a part of this,” Valente said. “Everyone’s close in these schools. Everyone knows each other. You get good rivalries with your friends. You get to battle. You’re not 'friends' on the field, and it’s just fun to compete.” Since Greater Johnstown left District 7 (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League) and joined the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference in 2001, the four city teams have regularly played each other. Since 2001, Richland has won the City Championship football series 10 times. Bishop McCort (then known as McCort-Carroll) won its eighth city title in 2025. Greater Johnstown has six City Championship crowns, and Westmont Hilltop earned two titles. The Hilltoppers and Richland each went 2-0 in the series in 2020 and did not face each other during the COVID-19 abbreviated season, so they shared the title. “Even when it was unofficial, it was always bragging rights,” Greater Johnstown coach Tony Penna Jr. said of facing the local rivals. “We’d tell our players, ‘You don’t want to bump into these guys in the mall and not have gotten the best of each other.' These coaches are special guys and lifelong friends. It makes it really special.” Richland will travel to Westmont Hilltop Sept. 10 to open this year’s City Championship series. “Thursday night lights,” Rams coach Brandon Bailey said. In 2025, Richland and McCort-Carroll played on a Thursday night at the Point. “The Johnstown area and the way it is set up geographically is just special,” Westmont Hilltop coach Josh Rearick said. “You’re so close and you have some pretty good-sized schools that all compete and have a rivalry.” The remainder of the City Championship series dates include Bishop McCort at Richland Sept. 18, Greater Johnstown at Westmont Hilltop Sept. 25, Bishop McCort at Greater Johnstown Oct. 2, and two series games will be played Oct. 9 – Westmont Hilltop at Bishop McCort and Greater Johnstown at Richland. “It’s definitely going to be intense,” Greater Johnstown wide receiver/defensive back Stephon Hill-Goodman said, “but at the end of the day, we’re all friends so we could laugh after it. We compete at the end of the day. “The trophy helps us compete better and put on a show.”