If you grew up anywhere near the border of Miami Springs and Hialeah, you know that high school football under the Friday night lights means a little bit more when the Mayor’s Cup is on the line. The annual clash between the Miami Springs Senior High Golden Hawks and the Hialeah High Thoroughbreds is a classic neighborhood brawl for bragging rights and, of course, the golden hardware.
Whether you’re a Golden Hawk or a T-Bred, the Mayor’s Cup has always been a staple of the local fall sports calendar. But if you’re looking for this game on the 2026 schedule, you’ll be disappointed. Let’s dive into the history of the game, the recent records, and why this historic rivalry is taking a breather this season.
How Long Has the Game Been Played?
The Mayor’s Cup represents one of the oldest and most storied high school football rivalries in Miami-Dade County. While the exact year the very first game was played is a bit obscured by decades of dusty local athletic records, the tradition of these two neighboring schools battling it out has been going strong since the early 70s.
Historically, Miami Springs and Hialeah were powerhouse programs that regularly clashed not just for local pride, but for serious playoff positioning. Over the decades, the rivalry evolved, eventually being christened as the “Mayor’s Cup” to formally recognize the high stakes between the two border cities.
What’s the Record Throughout Its History?
Because high school football records stretching back over 50+ years aren’t perfectly centralized online, a complete, unbroken all-time win-loss record is tough to pin down. However, the modern era of the Mayor’s Cup tells a very clear story: Hialeah has been dominant.
Over the last half-decade, the Thoroughbreds have maintained a tight grip on the Cup, heavily overpowering the Golden Hawks. Here is a quick look at how the rivalry has shaken out in recent years:
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2025: Hialeah blew out Miami Springs in a shutout, 38-0.
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2024: Hialeah won convincingly, 34-7.
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2023: Hialeah pitched a shutout, winning 33-0.
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2022: A much tighter contest, but Hialeah pulled it out, 21-14.
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2021: Hialeah took the victory, 19-6.
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2020: Miami Springs took the Cup home with a 29-13 victory.
While Miami Springs had a bright spot in 2020, the 2020s have largely belonged to Hialeah. The T-Breds have built a strong, competitive roster recently (posting a 7-5 record in 2025), while Miami Springs has found themselves in a rebuilding phase over the last few seasons.
Why Are They Not Playing This Year?
If you check the 2026 Football Schedule on MiamiSprings.com, you’ll notice a glaring omission: Miami Springs and Hialeah aren’t playing each other.
So, what gives?
The Miami Springs High School Football Alumni page on Facebook posted the following:
“Well I’ve been told by a very close source that Hialeah chose not to play us this year! Pretty frickin sad considering our history of 61 years!!!”
We have a bit of a theory as to why there won’t be a Mayor’s Cup game this year. It’s called the new era in Miami Springs led by former Miami Springs Senior High standout, FIU Hall of Famer, and NFL legend, T.Y. Hilton.
This entire offseason, the Golden Hawks are getting a lot of positive buzz about what’s coming this year. New talent. New leadership. And the potential to do something special. Miami Springs is aimed to leave a serious mark on Miami-Dade Football this year!
While we won’t see the Golden Hawks and the Thoroughbreds line up against each other this fall, true local rivalries never actually die—they just go dormant. Here’s hoping the Mayor’s Cup makes a triumphant return to the schedule in the near future!
2026 Miami Springs Senior High Football Schedule:
