# Pensacola vs Escambia: The Ye Olde Wash Boiler Rivalry

> Pensacola and Escambia battle for a 60-year-old metal wash tub trophy in Florida's oldest high school football rivalry.
- Title: Pensacola vs Escambia: The Ye Olde Wash Boiler Rivalry
- Summary: Pensacola and Escambia battle for a 60-year-old metal wash tub trophy in Florida's oldest high school football rivalry. Pensacola aims to end Escambia's…
- Keywords: pensacola, escambia, wash boiler, high school football, florida panhandle, ye olde wash boiler, jim scoggins stadium, emmitt smith, super bowl xxviii, homecoming game, high school rivalry, sports
- Source: High School On SI — https://si.com/high-school/florida/inside-the-battle-for-ye-olde-wash-boiler-pensacola-s-oldest-football-rivalry-01m2hp2784sh
- Published: 2026-09-16T11:51:15+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pensacola, escambia, wash boiler, high school football, florida panhandle, ye olde wash boiler, jim scoggins stadium, emmitt smith, super bowl xxviii, homecoming game, high school rivalry, sports
## The Wash Boiler Trophy
Since 1960, Pensacola and Escambia have battled for 'Ye Olde Wash Boiler,' an old metal wash tub representing over six decades of football history.

> The trophy isn't a golden football or silver cup. It's an old metal wash tub, reportedly chosen because the losing team was once required to wash the winner's uniforms.
## Rivalry Streaks Shift
Pensacola won 11 straight meetings from 2002 to 2012. Escambia ended that run with a 35-14 victory in 2013 and now owns a 13-game winning streak.
## Emmitt Smith's Historic Loss
During Emmitt Smith's four seasons at Escambia, he lost only four games. Three of those losses came against Pensacola.

> Perhaps the most memorable came in 1986. Escambia entered its game against Pensacola unbeaten and nationally ranked No. 1 after going two seasons without a loss.
## The 1986 Game
In 1986, Escambia led the state in scoring but lost 17-10 to Pensacola when Emmitt Smith broke loose on a punt return.

> Ilano made the tackle. Pensacola held on for the 17-10 victory, ending Escambia's unbeaten run and dealing a major blow to the Gators' hopes of finishing No. 1 nationally.
## Homecoming Stakes
Pensacola will host Escambia on homecoming night, adding extra pressure to a game where both teams enter with little early-season momentum.
## Current Records
Escambia is 1-1 after an 8-3 loss to Pine Forest and a 6-3 win over Tate. Pensacola enters the game 1-3.
## The Objective
For Pensacola, ending Escambia's 13-game winning streak means bringing the wash boiler home for the first time since 2013.
## The Legacy
The rivalry has swung dramatically over six decades, with generations of players coming through both programs since 1960.
## The Prize
The old wash boiler remains the prize despite changing records, streaks, and the passage of time.
## Friday's Game
On Friday night, Pensacola or Escambia will get to carry the wash boiler home, ending the 13-game streak or extending it.
## Key takeaway

Pensacola aims to end Escambia's 13-game winning streak and bring the wash boiler home for the first time since 2013.