NO ONE is even bothering to downplay the excitement surrounding this weekend.
Intra-county rivals East Jackson and Jackson County clash this Friday at 7:30 p.m. in only the second meeting between these sister schools.
“It’s a big game,” East Jackson running back C.J. Allen said. “I’m hyped up about this week. I hope it’s sold out. My momma has about 14 of my family members coming. It should be great, it should be a lot of fun. They’re already thinking they’re going to get us, but it ain’t going to happen. They can’t stop us. We’re the Eagles.”
Jackson County linebacker Trey PettyJohn offered a different take.
“We’re going to come out with a totally different mentality,” PettyJohn said Friday following Jackson County’s game with Fannin County. “We’re a totally different football team, and we’re going to be ready for them. But I promise you they won’t be ready for us.”
Thus is the fun when you have two schools that know each other this well.East Jackson opened in 2007, taking part of Jackson County’s student population, so this is as natural a rivalry as you’ll find.
“It’s somebody we’re always going to be measured against because we’re in the same county,” new East Jackson coach Brian Smith said of Jackson County.
Jackson County coach Billy Kirk said the series between these schools is a friendly rivalry — now.
Kirk acknowledged that there was some past tension when former Panther coach Frank Caputo moved from Jackson County to East Jackson to start that program in 2007 and stayed there for four years.
But Kirk feels things are different now with Smith at the helm at East Jackson.
“With Brian and his staff, there’s absolutely no animosity,” Kirk said.
Now, it’s just a good ole-fashioned, hard-nosed football game, he said.
“Now, it’s a football game between two sister schools and may the best man win,” Kirk said.
East Jackson won the inaugural meeting last year, 29-14, in a game played at Eagle Stadium. The rivalry shifts to Jackson County this year.
Kirk is excited.
“It’s one of those South Georgia-feel games … This is what football is built for, these type of games,” Kirk said.
Smith offered similar enthusiasm. Though he may be new to the Eagles-Panthers rivalry but he’s not new to these types of games, having been part of several while in South Carolina.
“I’ve coached in these games,” Smith said. “These game are fun. It’s a fun week. It’s why we do this.”
Smith added that this is the type of game everyone is taking about.
“It’s something the kids get up for, the students get up for,” Smith said. “Some of the students were talking about it in school today (Monday) who don’t play football. They were talking to me about it. They know what’s going on. They know who we’re playing.”
