As motorists travel up and down U.S. Route 60 in Cumberland and Buckingham this fall, absent will be the clanging swords of offensive plays, the cannon shots of defensive tackles and the victory calls from head football coaches.

The Friday night lights will be a little dimmer along Route 60 for the next two years between the two counties.

The infamous Battle of Route 60 — one that’s been fought between the varsity football teams of Buckingham and Cumberland high schools for years and years — won’t be held this year.

The game was not only one that allowed our talented athletes to shine on the field, but one that brought our communities together.

I don’t think I’m alone in saying that I’m going to miss seeing the blue and white of the Dukes on one side of the field and the green and gold of the Knights on the other and the mixing pallet of their colors in the middle of the field.

The game’s absence comes as Cumberland High School moves to a new conference though they are still in the James River District.

“We just decided, the principal (Jeff Scales) and I,” said CHS Athletic Director Alfonso Bell, “that we were just going to switch conferences because it was a whole lot easier for travel.”

The community should respect Cumberland’s decision, which will allow them to build a strong junior varsity team which will, in turn, bolster their varsity team.

The hopeful result will be more competitive, combative and aggressive battles on the gridiron.

That’s something I can wait on.

JORDAN MILES is managing editor of Farmville Newsmedia, LLC. His email address is jordan.miles@farmvilleherald.com

This is a clarified version of the original column, edited on Aug. 28.