One of the region's oldest high school football rivalries added another chapter this offseason.

Only this time both teams lost.

With exposed steel in each school's concrete bleachers, neighboring rivals Chula Vista and Sweetwater will open their seasons playing most, if not all, of their home games on the road.

Spectators aren't allowed on the almost 60-year-old home-side bleachers at either school.

“That type of structure will need a renovation of some sort over 40 or 50 years,” said Kevin Willard, assistant principal for student activities at Chula Vista. “Now you can see the actual steel (rebar) in the cracks, so it's time to renovate.”

Both schools are members of the Sweetwater Union High School District, which is planning to repair the bleachers using money from Proposition O, a bond measure passed by South County voters in 2006.

Each concrete structure requires the same work, and the district is planning to repair both at the same time. While that plan awaits state approval, the district is hoping a $450,000 bid – which allows for crews to finish the project in four weeks – will enable the schools to host their Nov. 14 homecoming games.

Only Sweetwater will have traditional home games on its schedule – Friday's season opener against Orange Glen and Sept. 26 against Christian.

Orange Glen and Christian don't traditionally bring large crowds to road games, so Sweetwater expects there to be adequate room for spectators on the side of the field where the bleachers are OK.

The rest of Sweetwater's home games will be played on its opponents' fields.

Chula Vista is scheduled to play two home games at Otay Ranch High, two at Southwestern College and one at Hilltop High.

The annual showdown between the Red Devils and Spartans, who've been opposing each other since the 1940s, is scheduled for Sept. 13 at Southwestern.

Sweetwater and Chula Vista are not alone in experiencing trouble with their home fields. Carlsbad High will be playing its home games on the road after soil tests in June revealed elevated levels of arsenic 6 inches below the surface of the Lancers' football field.

Expect Sweetwater coach Tony Garcia and Chula Vista coach Judd Rachow to use the hardship as a motivational tool.

“We just say that it's another challenge for us to overcome,” Garcia said. “More people get to see the good work we did (this season).”

Rachow said the situation affects his seniors the most.

“These seniors were freshmen during my first year as head coach,” Rachow said. “Now this is their chance. It's kind of a shame they don't get to play at home.”

Still, the class of 2009 plans to make the most of its final high school football season.

“This is the only home field we know,” said Rudy Garcia, senior captain and outside linebacker for Sweetwater. “We'll just beat the teams on the road.”