THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET

Excerpt from the issue of the Downers Grove Reporter, October 10, 1935:

“Hinsdale started a 'Little Brown Jug' rivalry with the game last Saturday. Boys in their manual training room made an “Old Oaken Bucket” bound with copper strips, which is to be contended for by the heavyweight football teams each year. Downers Grove will have its name and the score engraved on the Bucket this fall. It will be in the possession of the local team until the next game”.

In the first sixteen years of its existence, Downers Grove controlled the series, winning ten of the sixteen games and tying two. Then in 1951, the Red Devils controlled the Bucket for twenty consecutive years (1951 to 1970). In over a half century of competition, the series stands at Hinsdale 43 wins, Downers 31 wins and 3 games have ended in ties. Twenty-six games have been decided by a touchdown or less.

Considering the closeness of the communities and the fact that both schools were charter members of the West Suburban Conference, this has been a great rivalry.