The Enumclaw-White River rivalry is defined by the White River, which divides Enumclaw in King County and Buckley in Pierce County.
"You cross the bridge over to Buckley and it says, Welcome to Buckley, and you cross over the bridge to Enumclaw and it says, Welcome to Enumclaw," said Chris Gibson, White River High School athletic director.
The schools have battled for the unmarked bridge territory since 1953, when White River and Enumclaw competed as two separate high schools.
From 1950 to 1953, the two schools existed as the Enumclaw Tigers and the Buckley Mountaineers, but athletically they competed together as the White River Hornets. After the schools split, Buckley High became White River, and now both schools' mascot is a hornet.
This will be the fourth year the schools play each other after a four year hiatus. Gibson said the schools have gone all out—including playing the game in Sheets Field, White River's old grass stadium.
"There's a perpetual trophy that goes back and forth, but it's been on the other side of the river for quite a while," said Gibson.
Enumclaw won last year's battle 49-7. This year the match-up will take place Sept. 4.
