FINAL — Marlboro 14, Highland 7. Marlboro retains the Black and Blue Bowl trophy and extends its winning streak over Highland to 18 straight meetings, including playoff rematches. Shawn DeLaigle scored both Marlboro touchdowns on the ground, with the go-ahead score coming from the wildcat in the third quarter. Highland led 7–6 at halftime. Marlboro improves to 3–2; Highland falls to 4–2.
The Bowl trophy was first awarded in 2005, when Highland won 33–19 at Dietz Stadium. Contemporary first-trophy report →
Marlboro forced four turnovers, all interceptions. Shawn DeLaigle added two picks to his two rushing touchdowns, Bruce Laboy intercepted one pass, and Dylan McKenzie (#25) accounted for the fourth.
Original pregame preview
Highland has built a season worth taking seriously. Now comes a rivalry it has been trying to take back for years.
The Huskies visit Marlboro today at 1 p.m. for the Black and Blue Bowl, carrying a 4–1 record and the confidence of last week’s 31–14 win over Dover.
Marlboro enters 2–2. But the number that gives this game its edge is 17: the Iron Dukes have won 17 consecutive meetings between these programs, according to Section Nine Football historian Rich Arnott’s updated series history.
Highland’s progress makes the question compelling. Can these Huskies finally change the result?
A trophy with history behind it
The rivalry reaches back to the late 1950s. Its name reflects the school colors—Marlboro’s black and Highland’s blue—and its trophy gives the winner something tangible to carry away.
Highland beat Marlboro twice in 2009, including a Class B semifinal. Marlboro’s winning run began in 2010 and has survived regular-season meetings, postseason rematches and coaching changes.
Recent games have offered Highland little margin. Marlboro won 10–3 in the 2024 regular season, then 21–7 in that year’s semifinal. Last season, the Dukes won 7–0.
Those scores make finishing possessions a central storyline today. In a game decided by one touchdown, a drive that ends without points can follow a team all afternoon.
Highland has responded
The Huskies opened with wins over Wallkill, Poughkeepsie and Rondout Valley before Burke Catholic handed them a 52–6 loss.
Highland’s answer was a 31–14 win over Dover. That response matters: the Huskies took a difficult result, came back the following week and beat another Class C contender.
Marlboro offers a different test. The Dukes held unbeaten Beacon to 12 points in a 12–6 loss earlier this season. Their record alone does not explain how difficult they can make an afternoon for an opposing offense.
Highland needs to turn sustained drives into points. Marlboro needs to make the Huskies earn those drives while producing enough offense to keep control of the rivalry.
The stakes are clear
Highland has already clinched a Class C playoff place. Marlboro plays in Class B, so today’s result does not count toward either team’s playoff qualification record.
It still carries plenty of weight: a trophy, a local rivalry and a chance for Highland to put a signature win behind its promising start.
Marlboro has owned the result for 17 straight meetings. Highland gets four quarters to change that.
Highland at Marlboro · Today, October 10 · 1 p.m. ET · Marlboro Central High School
Game Center → · Series history →
Historical reference: Rich Arnott’s Black and Blue Bowl history.
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