One of the best high school Rivalry games in the nation, the Tuscola and Pisgah game in Waynesville, NC always delivers the fans excitement and tradition that exemplifies what Friday night football is all about. After a couple of rainy days, the skies cleared and the sun came out just in time for fans to begin lining up down the sidewalk. Fans arrived at 2:30pm waiting for the gates to open at 4:30 p.m. The crowd continued to grow as the 7:30 kickoff approached with the stadium reaching full capacity and standing room only around the perimeter and concourse areas by the second half.

MVP

Justin Davis

Pisgah

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Grayson Perkins

Tuscola

Garyson is a three-year varsity letterman in football with a 4.53 GPA and a member of the math club. He is also a member of the National Honor Society and plans to attend North Carolina State University and pursue a degree in computer science.

Brady Conners

Pisgah

Brady is a two-year letterman on the varsity football team and track. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. After high school, he plans to attend the University of North Carolina Charlotte and pursue a degree in engineering.

HALL OF FAME

Bill "Colonel" Brooks

Tuscola

Coach Hefner coached at Tuscola for more than 30 years and is loved and respected by both past and present players and coaches. His primary coaching responsibility was as the defensive backs coach. During his tenure, the Mountaineers won the rivalry game 23 times. In addition to coaching football, he also coached track and had the honor of coaching Tuscola’s only two-time state champion. Coach Hefner was a valuable member of the faculty as both a teacher and coach and is still a loyal supporter of the Mountaineers.

Harold Singleton

Pisgah

Harold began coaching in 1967 under the late Boyd Allen. He served as a head coach for junior varsity football, boy’s track, girls’ basketball, and assistant varsity football. Harold was on the staff that won the 1975 and 1976 3A State Championship. He retired in 2004 after teaching social studies, driver education and serving as an assistant principal and athletic director.

GAME SUMMARY

Going into the game, the teams were all tied up with a 26-26-1 overall record. Tuscola was looking to avenge a four-year losing streak with the past two years decided by last-second plays. Pisgah was hungry to take the overall lead in the series for the first time since 1982. Early on it became clear the Pisgah Bears had the upper hand. With less than three minutes on the clock in the first quarter, QB Tanner Wike found a streaking Justin Davis, game MVP, for a 64-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. They would extend that lead to 17-3 at the half. Tuscola was able to score on a three yard fumble recovery in the 4th quarter but it was not enough. Pisgah players embraced and posed next to the Great American Rivalry Championship trophy, ignoring the sudden downpour, and celebrating a 31-10 win on the home field of cross-town rival Tuscola.