The 95th renewal of the football rivalry between neighbors San Mateo and Burlingame highs, dubbed the Little Big Game, will lift off at 11 a.m. Saturday at the latter's field. The first game was played in 1927, one year after San Mateo, featuring multiple players from Burlingame, won the CIF state championship, a true crown that was decided by an actual statewide playoff. Burlingame opened in 1923 and was called "San Mateo High School _ Northern Branch" for several years. San Mateo's history dates all the way back to 1902. The Little Big Game is one of the oldest public school rivalries in the Bay Area. Burlingame leads the series, 58-32-4. The Panthers have won the last 12 games in row. Players on both rosters were in pre-school the last time the Bearcats won this affair. San Mateo is 7-2 and champion of the Peninsula Athletic League's Ocean (B) Division. Burlingame is 4-5 and a member of the PAL's Bay (A) Division. The Panthers need to win this weekend to guarantee a Central Coast Section playoff bid. The Bearcats have already secured a playoff slot. Weather permitting, a gathering of 4,000 customers seems likely. The schools are separated by just over one mile, making this a true neighborhood event.
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