Page 12 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 9, 2026 MALDEN-EVERETT HISTORY: Golden Tornados vs. Crimson Tide football battled for the 134th time this year Series started in 1893; Game #134 was played last Friday night at Macdonald Stadium By Steve Freker game played in 1927. But Malden High and Everett O ne of the oldest high school football rivalries in America resumed Friday night, as the Malden High Golden Tornados clashed with the Everett High Crimson Tide for the 134th time. Friday night’s game was played at Macdonald Stadium in Malden, resulting in a 35-6 Everett victory over host Malden. The series is now well into its third century of play, over 130 years old, having started back in 1893. It is probably a sure bet that nearly every single fan walked to the Malden-Everett game that year, as only a horse and buggy would have gotten to the field any faster for kickoff. The two teams played continuously for 33 seasons, from 18931926. For reasons not known, there was no Malden-Everett High have banged helmets every year since, on the second or third Saturday in November, from 1928 until 2011, when the MIAA instituted its new playoff system, pushing the Malden-Everett game back into October, for the first time in over 120 years. As of late, due to the new playoff structure, the game has been played on Friday night when it is Everett’s turn to host the rivalry. Malden engineered biggest upset in series history, 21-20, in 1912 over previously unbeaten, unscored upon Tide A prominent, early example of the intense gridiron passion between these two schools occurred in 1912. That year, Everett High possessed a legendary Breno Giacomini, a 2005 Malden High grad, helped the Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl Championship on February 2, 2014. (Courtesy Photo) ‘AIR FINN’: Former longtime Malden High Football Head Coach Paul Finn (right) is the only Tornado head coach with a winning record against Everett (14-11-1) who coached for double-digit season years. Above he is shown with three former Malden High quarterbacks, from left to right: Chuck Borstel (1986 season), Billy Roderick (1987 season) and Steve Monaco (1983, 1984 & 1985), who combined for over 5,000 career yards passing. (Courtesy/Malden Athletics) national powerhouse team featuring future Harvard All-American Charles Brickley. Everett outscored their opponents 437 to 21. The “21” on that equation and Everett’s lone blemish came from a highly contested battle with Malden High, who managed a monumental 21-20 upset to briefly claim the Suburban League crown. Because the stakes were so high and the fan bases so passionate, games from this era routinely featured fierce public arguments over refereeing calls, rules and player eligibility. What else is new, 114 years later! The last couple of years have MALDEN LEGENDS: The 1974 Malden High Varsity Football team, considered one of the very best in Golden Tornado history, defeated Everett 26-6, on the road, on its way to its first GBL title in over a decade. Shown above, from left to right: Back row: Paul Coleman, Mark Burns and Jack Freker; front row: Steve Carlan and Jeff Sullivan. (Courtesy/Peter Levine)
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