Central Kitsap High School and Olympic High School will renew their rivalry on the gridiron in September.
After a two-year hiatus, the Battle of Bucklin Hill between the Cougars and Trojans will return to Silverdale Stadium. The game will be played Sept. 10, with Olympic as the home team.
“It’s a good deal for our community,” Central Kitsap Athletic Director Bill Baxter said. “There was some disappointment when it went away, so I think it’s something people might get excited about.”
The Battle of Bucklin Hill began in 1981 with Central Kitsap defeating Olympic by seven points, said Baxter, who was a member of the winning team. The game was played annually until 2008, when Central Kitsap opted out and instead made a two-year commitment to play one non-league game per season at Qwest Field in Seattle.
That agreement is over, freeing up the Cougars. Baxter said the game will be played again in 2011, at which time Central Kitsap will evaluate its non-league schedule and either commit again or look for a different opponent.
Olympic coach Tim Allbee said in an email Tuesday there will be a ceremony either before the game or during halftime to honor former coach Eric Allen, who died last week at the age of 44.
