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Two of the area's top football programs have agreed to meet on the field for the first time since 1979.

Edgewood and Valley View, perennial playoff teams, have agreed on a two-year contract that will have the Spartans travel to Kumler Field in Trenton in 2009, and the Cougars will head to Barker Field in Germantown in 2010. Both games are slated for the second week of the season.

Valley View has won three Division IV state championships (1994, 1996, 1997) under Jay Niswonger, who will enter his 24th year with the Spartans in 2008. Valley View has been in the state playoffs 14 times since 1992.

Steve Channell will be entering his 19th season at Edgewood, which reached the Division II state semifinals in 1999 and the D-II state finals in 2003. The Cougars have been in the playoffs nine of the last 11 years and have 12 straight winning seasons.

"I think it will be very good for both communities," said Channell, who has compiled a 136-64 record at Edgewood.

"Both programs have very rich traditions over a long period of time. I'm excited about the opportunity to go against a caliber program like that."

Edgewood won its two previous games against Valley View in 1978 and 1979, but it will be the first meeting between the two schools under these coaches.

"We've talked about it for a couple of years," said Niswonger, who is 221-58-1 at Valley View. "It'll definitely be good for both communities."

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or sweaver@coxohio.com.

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