Since Fitch High School’s Falcon Stadium opened in 1969, the “West Side Rivalry” has been in the spotlight there for opening weekend of the high school football season.

But when the Chaney Cowboys and Fitch Falcons line up Friday night, it will be for the last time in the foreseeable future.

“Our contract runs out after this season,” confirmed Rob Conklin, athletic director for Division I Fitch. “It’s kind of a mutual decision.”

Chaney’s new coach Jim Vivo reluctantly says that the Division II Cowboys program “has fallen on tough times. And it’s hard to admit that considering the proud tradition Chaney has.

“But playing us is not in the best interest of teams like Fitch and Poland who are seeking secondary computer points for a playoff chase. We’ve won three games in three years.”

For years, the Chaney-Fitch matchup was one of the best of football’s opening weekend.

However, the Cowboys haven’t defeated the Falcons since 2002 and they have struggled to be competitive. Last year, the Falcons won, 62-7. The Fitch-Chaney game has devolved into one-sided blowouts that have been benefitting no one.

“For it to be a rivalry, both teams have to win [occasionally],” Vivo said.

After an eight-season layoff, Vivo, a 1987 graduate of Chaney, has returned to the sidelines. Vivo became a head coach in 1997 at Lowellville and spent two seasons there.

Then he took over at Ursuline for three years and guided the Irish to the Division IV state championship in 2000, defeating Coldwater to cap a 14-1 season.

He returns to coaching with a program that has indeed fallen on hard times. The school that launched the careers of Brad Smith (Missouri/New York Jets), Keilen Dykes (West Virginia/Arizona Cardinals), Jerry Olsavsky (Pitt/Steelers), Michael Zordich (Penn State/Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles) and Matt Cavanaugh (Pitt, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers) won once in 2009. That victory was against Slippery Rock High.

The Cowboys were competitive against East Liverpool, falling 28-22. The rest of the games weren’t close.

Last year’s Fitch loss was followed by a 58-0 loss to Warren Harding and a 52-6 defeat at Boardman. (Boardman is no longer on the Chaney schedule, either.)

This year’s Chaney schedule includes Warren Harding plus All-American Conference Red Tier powers Canfield, Poland and Howland.

Vivo said the Harding series will lapse after next season and the Cowboys are dropping Poland after their Oct. 1 game.

“We would love to continue to play Boardman, Poland and Fitch, but we need to start winning,” Vivo said. “It’s my job and our coaches’ jobs to get it back.

“Hopefully someday, we can call those schools when our program is in better shape and say we’d like to rekindle” those games.

For now, adding Lakeview, Canton Central Catholic and Division VI Youngstown Christian to the schedule is a step in the right direction for Chaney.

Playing smaller schools is no guarantee for victories. But leveling the playing field by finding competitive games is the only way Chaney can revive its program. (How do you motivate athletes whose team was outscored 172-13 in last year’s first three games?)

Conklin sympathizes with Mahoning Valley’s independent teams like Chaney and East that struggle to fill their schedules.

“There are only so many options out there for independents,” Conklin said. “We’re going to be in that boat someday.”

In two years, Fitch will join the All-American Conference in every sport except football. Except for Boardman, the Falcons’ current Federal League opponents most likely won’t be interested in traveling to Mahoning County for a game when there are possibilities closer to their Stark County homes.

Even as the West Side Rivalry becomes dormant, there is some good news. In 2011 and 2012, Fitch and Warren Harding will open against each other. Those are games every football fan can appreciate.

“It’s been a great rivalry for forever,” Conklin said of Fitch-Chaney. “There’s always a chance we might be able to resume it.”