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NHS-Tilton School “Powder Keg” Rivalry, One of the Nation’s Oldest, Resumes November 8
New Hampton School will host Tilton School on Saturday, November 8, to determine the winner of this year’s traditional “Powder Keg” trophy. The football rivalry between the two schools began in 1895 and has since been expanded to include other fall sports.
In years past this rivalry was known as the “Harvard-Yale” of New Hampshire preparatory school competition. The two schools first met in baseball in the late 1880s, and then competed in track. The first football game was played in 1895. Among prep schools, only the Exeter-Andover football series begun in 1878 and the Groton-St. Mark’s competition dating to 1886 are older.
In years past this rivalry was known as the “Harvard-Yale” of New Hampshire preparatory school competition. The two schools first met in baseball in the late 1880s, and then competed in track. The first football game was played in 1895. Among prep schools, only the Exeter-Andover football series begun in 1878 and the Groton-St. Mark’s competition dating to 1886 are older.
The competition endured over the many years despite two wars, a flu epidemic, and numerous snowstorms. From 1895-1912 the football teams played twice each year, traveling the dozen or so miles down the “Devil’s Den Road” (now Rte. 132). The rivalry was resumed in 1921 with just one game annually and continued until 1939, then resumed again in 1942 until 1951, when a “cooling off” period was prompted by an excess of school spirit. It next resumed in 1954.
In the 1950s the schools instituted a trophy, the “Powder Keg,” which was awarded to the school that won the football game. In its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, interest in the New Hampton/Tilton football rivalry went way beyond the walls of the two schools, annually drawing spectators from around New England.
More recently, the competition was revived yet again last year after an almost twenty-year hiatus. The schools’ athletic staffs met to determine how best to resurrect the athletic rivalry, and they decided to update the contest to include more fall sports. Teams competed last year on Tilton School’s athletic fields, with each winning varsity team receiving two points and each JV team receiving one.
In the case of a tie at the end of the day, the winner of the football game (the original rivalry) would prevail. That’s what happened, as the two schools were tied on points until the football game. Tilton took the game and the coveted barrel-shaped trophy, which had been in New Hampton School’s trophy case since 1989. On November 8 the two schools will meet yet again to determine who will claim the Powder Keg for the coming year.
Powder Keg Competition at New Hampton School, Saturday, Nov. 8:
Men’s JV-B Soccer, 11:30 am
Men’s Varsity Soccer, noon
Men’s JV-A Soccer, 1:15 pm
Women’s Varsity Field Hockey, 2 pm
Coed Varsity Cross Country, 2:30 pm
Women’s Varsity Soccer, 2:45 pm
Men’s Varsity Football, 3:45 pm
Founded in 1821, New Hampton School is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory secondary school of 330 students who come from over twenty states and fourteen foreign countries. NHS prepares students for life-long learning through self-discovery, authentic relationships, civic responsibility, and global citizenship. Students benefit from an average class size of 11 and a student-faculty ratio of 5:1. For more information, please visit www.newhampton.org.
Founded in 1845, Tilton School is an independent, coeducational, boarding and day school in Tilton, NH, serving students in grades 9 through 12 and post-graduates. Tilton’s curricular model stresses the acquisition of skills, knowledge and understanding in five areas: communication, critical thinking, community, creativity, and character. Tilton School believes in the power of each student’s individual potential for lifelong personal success and service.
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In the 1950s the schools instituted a trophy, the “Powder Keg,” which was awarded to the school that won the football game. In its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, interest in the New Hampton/Tilton football rivalry went way beyond the walls of the two schools, annually drawing spectators from around New England.
More recently, the competition was revived yet again last year after an almost twenty-year hiatus. The schools’ athletic staffs met to determine how best to resurrect the athletic rivalry, and they decided to update the contest to include more fall sports. Teams competed last year on Tilton School’s athletic fields, with each winning varsity team receiving two points and each JV team receiving one.
In the case of a tie at the end of the day, the winner of the football game (the original rivalry) would prevail. That’s what happened, as the two schools were tied on points until the football game. Tilton took the game and the coveted barrel-shaped trophy, which had been in New Hampton School’s trophy case since 1989. On November 8 the two schools will meet yet again to determine who will claim the Powder Keg for the coming year.
Powder Keg Competition at New Hampton School, Saturday, Nov. 8:
Men’s JV-B Soccer, 11:30 am
Men’s Varsity Soccer, noon
Men’s JV-A Soccer, 1:15 pm
Women’s Varsity Field Hockey, 2 pm
Coed Varsity Cross Country, 2:30 pm
Women’s Varsity Soccer, 2:45 pm
Men’s Varsity Football, 3:45 pm
Founded in 1821, New Hampton School is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory secondary school of 330 students who come from over twenty states and fourteen foreign countries. NHS prepares students for life-long learning through self-discovery, authentic relationships, civic responsibility, and global citizenship. Students benefit from an average class size of 11 and a student-faculty ratio of 5:1. For more information, please visit www.newhampton.org.
Founded in 1845, Tilton School is an independent, coeducational, boarding and day school in Tilton, NH, serving students in grades 9 through 12 and post-graduates. Tilton’s curricular model stresses the acquisition of skills, knowledge and understanding in five areas: communication, critical thinking, community, creativity, and character. Tilton School believes in the power of each student’s individual potential for lifelong personal success and service.
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