John Muir and Pasadena High square off in boys water polo Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in the annual crosstown matchup known as the Tuna Tussle.
The Pacific League game is free to attend. The RBAC's weekly newsletter and the Pasadena High Bulldogs Facebook page both list a 6 p.m. start, while MaxPreps shows 6:30 p.m. on both teams' schedules. Fans should confirm the time with their school's athletic department.
The name riffs on the Turkey Tussle, the Muir-Pasadena High football rivalry that began in 1947 and has been played between the two high schools since 1954. The football game's prize is the Victory Bell, a trophy donated by the Santa Fe Railroad in 1955.
Muir's Mustangs enter at 10-4 overall and 1-0 in league play, sitting third in the Pacific League as of Sept. 28. The Mustangs opened league competition with a 14-11 win at Burroughs on Sept. 23 but come in on a two-game losing streak, including a tight 13-12 tournament loss to Crespi on Sept. 26. Through 14 games, Muir has scored 178 goals and allowed 116.
Pasadena High's Bulldogs sit at 9-6 overall and 0-1 in league, eighth in the Pacific League. The Bulldogs dropped a 17-11 decision at Arcadia on Sept. 24 in their league opener. They have been prolific on offense, putting up 229 goals in 15 games while allowing 137.
Saturday's matchup pits Muir's stingier defense against Pasadena High's higher-scoring attack.
Visitors to the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center on Saturday should allow extra time for traffic and parking. The RBAC newsletter cited a stadium event the same evening.
After the Tuna Tussle, Pasadena High travels to Burroughs Tuesday, Oct. 6, while Muir is scheduled to face Burbank and Glendale that day.
