A number of factors equate into the making of a rivalry.
There needs to be history, like the storied Charleroi-Monessen rivalry, which was tabled this year due to scheduling conflicts, postponing the 100th meeting.
There needs to be success, like when Beth-Center and California met two years ago with undefeated records. The Bulldogs went on to the WPIAL Class A semifinals and California nearly beat Clairton in the quarterfinals. Adamson Stadium, the home stadium of California University, was near capacity.
The right time on the schedule doesn't hurt either. Opening week and Week 9 are prime showcases for rivalry games.
Canon-McMillan versus Trinity, the game that's become Washington County's highest profile rivalry, sports all those credentials.
Need history? These two have been rivals for decades, particularly in wrestling. Need success? Both qualified for the postseason a year ago and both rosters are rife with future college players. Need the venue? These two open the season tonight at Canon-McMillan.
"Each has had turns being on top and prevailing against the other," Canon-McMillan coach Guy Montecalvo said. "Trinity, more recently, has been a winning program but I can remember playing against Trinity teams that had 10-1 or 9-2 seasons."
Montecalvo played and coached at Washington High School, where he experienced a number of rivalries from Wash High-Trinity to Washington versus Beth-Center to Washington and Waynesburg.
According to him, Canon-McMillan and Trinity is comparable.
"It's one of the better ones I've been involved in," Montecalvo said. "Washington and Trinity was something everyone was charged up for and I hope they can renew that but our kids get excited about playing Trinity no question."
The feeling is mutual for the Hillers, who lost last year's meeting, 34-13.
"This is a good one. There's a lot of expectations that come with this game," Trinity coach Ed Dalton said. "The best thing is this game is in the perfect week. The first week is the best week. Both teams are undefeated, untied and unscored upon."
And both expect to compete for WPIAL championships.
Canon-McMillan boasts a bevy of returning skill players and, with 26 seniors, depth along the offensive line and at linebacker is not an issue.
But it's the Big Macs backfield, bolstered by Division I prospect Mike Hull and the return of Chad Hagan, that has Trinity concerned.
"Canon-McMillan has the best backfield in the WPIAL and I'm not making that up," Dalton said. "Hagan is just ridiculous and he's just one of a handful of offensive weapons. This is like those old Wash High teams. In the past, we could take one of their backs and say, 'If they can beat us with that one, let them.' Now, every one of those kids can go the distance."
Canon-McMillan broke nine runs of 50-plus yards during its two weeks of scrimmages and that came without Hull, who was held out with a bad back.
Well, Hull's ready to go against Trinity. The 1,300-yard rusher and middle linebacker practiced this week.
"We held him out of the second scrimmage but he could have gone," Montecalvo said. "He is 100 percent, full-go. He made up for the lack of contact very quickly. In fact, we had to calm him down."
No doubt Hull will be ready to play Trinity, which features one of Class AAA's top defensive lines.
Senior end Jack Jamerson and junior end Ken Wilkens bookend tackles LaShawn Bryant and Buck Gnagey. It's one of the few areas where Trinity has ample game experience. The Hillers also start a large offensive line, but one that returns only one starter in Nate Lojek.
"I sure wish I could find the secret formula to find that kind of size," Montecalvo said. "They are really massive. But they're not just massive, they can move and their two defensive ends are just awesome."
Last year, Canon-McMillan won the line-of-scrimmage battle as Hull rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns in a game which featured four Division I players - Trinity's Andrew Sweat (Ohio State), Mike Yancich (Penn State) and Brandon Weaver (Ohio) in addition to Canon-McMillan's Jeravin Matthews (Northwestern). Throw in the Big Macs' Brad Strimel, who accepted an appointment to play at Army, Hull, Jamerson, Lojek and Wilkens, and a lot of Division I talent suited up for that game.
"There were a lot of very, very fine football players on the field," Montecalvo said. "Of course, Trinity had the three kids and we had good football players as well. Plus, there were four to five quality players on each roster that will enhance the futures of Division II and Division III programs as well.
"There were as many as seven or eight Division I players on the field. Combine that with a great atmosphere and a great crowd, and it made for a great experience."