Winnebago and Pecatonica (Du-Pec) set to renew long-dormant football rivalry
Du-Pec’s move in football from the NUIC to the Big Northern Conference this season has resurrected one of the great rivalries in Northern Illinois. The battle for the Silver Bucket. It returns this Friday night in Winnebago.
Winnebago and Pecatonica are set to renew their long-dormant football rivalry this Friday night in Winnebago. The battle for the Silver Bucket, a traveling trophy, will take place less than nine miles between the two communities. It has been 37 years since they last faced off in high school football. Joe Murphy, Winnebago's head football coach in 1989, described the games as intense, with each team wanting to win.
Current Du-Pec defensive line coach Corey Anderson, who played in those games, said marking the game on the calendar was a given once the schedule was released. There were 28 games played in the series, with Winnebago winning 18 and Pecatonica winning 10. The scores of the games are engraved on the bucket. The rivalry began in 1961, and the last game was in 1989.
Today, Pecatonica competes in a conference with smaller schools, while Winnebago remains in the Big Northern Conference. The enrollment growth at Pecatonica and the football co-op with Durand have brought Du-Pec's size in line with the Big Northern schools. The rivalry continues to be cherished by older generations while younger generations are also learning about it and getting excited to participate.
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