Week #3

September 9th, 2022

Alcoa at Maryville

Tennessee

The Battle of Pistol Creek is set for its 94th edition this fall between Alcoa and Maryville. Both programs are considered the most dominant forces in Tennessee High School Football. Alcoa Coach Gary Rankin is the all-time winningest coach in Tennessee High School History and has 12 state championships with Alcoa. Maryville coach Derek Hunt has two state championships and only 4 loss in 5 seasons at Maryville. In the series, Maryville holds the edge with a 64-25 record and has won 9 of the last 10 meetings.

Apple Valley at Victor Valley

California

The Bell Game is a timeless California classic, having been played between the Apple Valley Sun Devils and the Victor Valley Jackrabbits for half a century. Recency has favored the Sun Devils, who extended their winning streak to ten years after last season’s 59-0 rout of their rivals. However, like Icarus who flew too close to the sun, the boys at Apple Valley fell short to Serra in the state championship after a stellar regular season. The flames of revenge are burning, and one can only assume the Sun Devils have their eyes locked on making it back to the title game. With any luck, the Jackrabbits can stifle their rival’s championship aspirations and perhaps make it to the game themselves. After a lackluster 7-6 season, the motivation Victor Valley needs to succeed may just come on September 4th if they can paint Jackrabbit Green on the Bell.

Banning at Beaumont

California

The Mission Viejo Diablos look to torch the competition in another fiery matchup against the Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits. Last year, the Diablos travelled to Long Beach where they immolated their rival, winning 42-14. Despite dropping this game, the Jackrabbits finished with a better regular season record and a deeper playoff run, advancing all the way to the regional finals where they were narrowly defeated by eventual champion Serra. Riding high off last season’s success and seeking revenge, the Jackrabbits certainly have this game marked on their calendar as they prepare to enter the furnace in Diablo Stadium on September 17th. Meanwhile, the boys over at Mission Viejo will look to stoke the flames of victory and keep their winning streak alive against Long Beach.

Christian Brothers at Jesuit

California

The Holy Bowl is back under the Great American Rivalry Series lights & cameras again. The two teams have been playing each other since 1969, said that each had the best offense and defense in the area they decided to pit the teams against each other to see who is better and bring the community together for a wonderful rivalry. The rivalry even created a smaller rivalry for two teams that serve as feeder teams for Christian Brothers & Jesuit, dubbed the “Junior Halo Bowl”. In the 2020 matchup, the Jesuit Marauders took the victory in a closely contested battle 33-28. In the following year of 2021, the Marauders ensured the game wouldn’t be as close as the score was in 2020, by decisively ending the game with a score of 44-0. Jesuit will be hosting Christian Brothers this year for their 51st rivalry meeting, which will surely be exciting to watch!

Hilliard Davidson at Hilliard Darby

Ohio

In 1997, Hilliard High School split to form Hilliard Davidson and Hilliard Darby. This split also gave birth to one of the fiercest rivalries in Ohio. Davidson currently holds a 9-5 advantage in the series and looks to avenge a loss at home last season. Darby looks to build on their win to get one step back to evening the rivalry.

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Roswell at Milton

Georgia

It’s time once again for the annual “Turf Wars” between the historic rivals of the Roswell Hornets and the Milton Eagles.  First played in 1950, these two communities began as small farming communities but have since sprouted into quickly expanding communities entrenched in suburbia. Even with the communities growing around them, these two football powerhouses sit less than 4 miles away from each other and this heated rivalry only continues to get bigger as each year goes by. Milton are coming off a regular season region championship season with the win over Roswell being the defining moment between the two.  Will the revenge seeking Roswell Hornets be able to defeat the Milton Eagles, or will Milton continue where they left off last season?

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Vestivia Hills at Hoover (Thursday, Sep 8, 2022)

Alabama

Two historic titans of Alabama high school football set up to clash once again this fall with an introduction into a new era for the Hoover Buccaneers and the Vestavia Hills Rebels. In one of the country’s largest long-time rivalries, dating back to 1972, this game has had huge implications for state championships. This being seen by these the winner of the regular season game going on to be region champions every year except 2013 and 2015 during a stretch between 1990 and 2015. This rivalry takes on a new twist this year as both schools enter new eras with new coaches at the helm. Coach Wade Waldrop takes over as head football coach for Hoover and Coach Robert Evans takes over as head football coach for Vestavia Hills, both now set to face off against one another and stamp their own mark in history. The Buccaneers have dominated the series since the turn of the century and look to record a sixth straight win with the Rebels’ last victory coming in 2015. Will Hoover and last year’s MVP, Ahmari Williams, be able to claim another victory, or will a new face emerge to help Vestavia Hills get back to winning ways?