Cedar Rapids, Iowa – For the first time ever Kohawk football will host a night game at Clark Field on the campus of Coe College. The Kohawks host rival Cornell College at 7 p.m. this Saturday, September 14, 2019.

"This is something that our players have been talking about and excited for since the schedule was released this summer, Head Coach Tyler Staker said. "Night games are big deal in college football and for the opportunity to host the first ever, against your rival makes it all the more memorable." 

Coe College football dates back to 1891 with many great accomplishments, games, coaches and players but never a home game under the lights. This Saturday, for the first time ever the Kohawks will have football at night on Clark field.

The excitement for this game has been growing since the idea was first presented to Head Coach Tyler Staker back in the spring. "Coe-Cornell under the lights at Clark Field? You bet!" Staker said. "That was my initial response when this idea was presented to me by our Athletics Director, Sonny Travis last spring."

If you are going to make history you might as well go all out and who better for the Kohawks to host in this game then their longtime rival Cornell College. The Coe-Cornell rivalry is as old as the Coe football program itself. The rivalry, claimed by many as the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi dates back to 1891. The first game was played in a cow pasture with a creek running along the 50-yard line. Now 129 years later the next chapter of this great rivalry will play out under the lights at Clark Field.  

"The Coe Cornell rivalry has great football rich tradition, as we are about to square off for the 129^th time this Saturday. Playing under the lights for the first ever night game at Clark field will add to the energy and atmosphere that surrounds this great rivalry" Staker added.

"I know a couple of the local guys on the team at Cornell and I'm excited to play them for the last time and for the first time under the lights at Coe College," added senior linebacker Logan Rickard.

The Coe-Cornell rivalry has been played every year but five (1895, 1896, 1899 and during the war years of 1943 and 1944) since it began. Five times (1900, 1902, 1903, 1918 and 1945) the Kohawks and Rams have met twice in the season. Over the course of their 128 meetings the Kohawks hold a 72-50-4 series lead.

In 2014, Cornell hosted the first night game of the series. As the Kohawks get set to host their first night game the Kohawk players can feel the buzz around campus growing. "The cross-town Coe-Cornell rivalry is already exciting given that it's one of the oldest in the country. With it being the first night game we get to play at home gives it that much more energy and we can feel that around campus," senior wide receiver Colton While said. "People are definitely looking forward to it and it should be an awesome atmosphere." 

The Kohawks are currently on the longest winning streak in series history having won the last 19 games between the two. Last year the Kohawks won a night game at Cornell 42-7. Coe will look to continue that streak and pick up a Bremner Cup point with a win.

The Bremner Cup will return to Coe after two years as Coe won the all sports competition for the Cup this past year by a margin of 11-3. The Kohawks will be presented the Bremner Cup at halftime of this historic game.