Dragons ready for historic opener, Aug. 29

The earliest the teams have faced off in the year, according to Tiger historian Jeff Prickett, was the second game of the year. That occurred four times for Commerce. In 1996 and 1997, both teams faced each other in their second scheduled game. In 1986 and 1987, they met in what was Jefferson’s third game of the season.

Jefferson coach Bill Navas said that the Jefferson-Commerce games have been good games for both schools.
“Normally the Commerce game has been a region game for us,” said Navas. “I think it is a good way for both schools to start the season off. Put it this way, after playing in that game, you will have played in any other big game in the region.”

The history books show Commerce with an advantage in those few early season games in the series. In all four early meetings, the Tigers have been victorious. “It’s going to be another game for us,” Commerce coach Steve Savage said. “Hopefully, we’d like to win it. But we’ve got to find out where our football team is. Certainly the first game is not going to make or break us.”

Navas said, “[The game] is a benefit for both schools, I think it will be great for either school. From our standpoint, we have played with them and then last year won the game. I think the rivalry is really starting to spark up and they are going to try and come back and hit us hard this year, but think that is a great way to start the season.”

Savage said the rivalry won’t play into how he and his team approach the season opener.
“We play about six or seven rivals anyway,” Savage said. “We try not to get too hyped up over it. My guess is they’ll get a little hyped up, but we’re going to play it just like it is.”

The Jefferson-Commerce rivalry has a long and storied history, leading back to the two teams’ first meeting in 1947. In that year, the teams faced each other twice, once in Commerce, and once in Jefferson. Commerce won both times. In fact, Commerce has the clear advantage when it comes to facing the Dragons. The Tigers have recorded 41 victories, 16 losses, and five ties. The ties do not include their 2004 meeting, where Commerce won by a field goal in overtime. Until this year, Commerce had a solid lock on the win column in the series winning 12 times in a row dating back to 1995, but Jefferson broke the streak in a big way last year, overwhelming the Tigers 42-7.

Regardless of history, Navas and the Dragons are working hard at practices to prepare for the fall, and the opener against Commerce, August 29.