Muir, PHS to Square Off in Turkey Tussle Second Time This Year on Friday

John Muir and Pasadena high schools will continue their local rivalry at 6:30 p.m. Friday when the two teams square off in the Rose Bowl in the 74th annual Turkey Tussle football game.

This year marks the first time that the game is being played twice in the same year. The high school football season was pushed back last year and the two teams met in April.

In that game, the Bulldogs clobbered the Mustangs 33-6. The win was Pasadena High School’s first victory since 1995 in a rivalry that had become one-sided over the past 25 years.

The bulldogs still have not rung the coveted Victory Bell in their end zone. The team could not do so in April because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Turkey Tussle dates back to 1947, when Pasadena Community College and John Muir College squared off. The two colleges played against each other until 1953.

The first game between Pasadena High School and John Muir High School was played in 1954.

In 1955, the Santa Fe Railroad presented the victory bell to PHS at a pep rally for the game.

Earlier this month the annual game was voted best rivalry in Southern California high school football beating out 15 other games.