When asked what he thinks of Valley College and with a grin on his face, head football coach Efrain Martinez simply said, “if I had a daughter who worked at a whorehouse, and I had a son who went to Valley, I’d get my son out first.”
These bold words from coach Martinez are just the cornerstone of any good rivalry.
Pierce and Valley have been rivals ever since the schools first opened in the 1940’s. In fact, out of all the teams in the Western State Conference; Pierce and Valley have the biggest competition with one another.
According to Martinez, the origin of the rivalry isn’t really known. He thinks that the rivalry is really just based on the fact that the schools are in such close proximity to each other.
Most schools in the same city often have a rivalry with each other; take USC and UCLA, for example.
Whatever the reason, harmless banter and an agenda to defeat them seems to add a certain amount of pizzazz for the athletes and coaches when playing Valley.
An important fixture in this rivalry is without doubt, the bell. This bell represents power and victory to the team who possesses it. Ownership of the victory bell is given to the team that wins the game.
The team that wins gets to keep the bell until next season; when they must play each other again. Due to Pierce’s 50-13 loss against Valley last season; Valley currently has the bell..
Even with sophomore wide receiver Kenny Davis out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury, they are still optimistic.
Said freshman wide receiver Roodlin Exalus, “Pierce used to lose to Valley, but it’s a whole new Pierce.”
Although Pierce still has a few more games to go before they play Valley; there must be a certain amount of anticipation to play their rivals. “No guys are losing sleep over it right now,” said Martinez. “At least until the week of the game.”