A historical match up

Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 7, 2010

Andalusia’s Jacard Townsend (5) tackles Straughn’s Zac Turvin during last season’s contest. The Bulldogs have a 5-3 record over the Tigers in their last eight meetings. | File photo

Upon hearing the news that Straughn was moving up to Class 4A last November, my head started spinning, because I knew the match up between Andalusia and Straughn in week seven this season was going to be between the two teams that will end up No. 1 and No. 2 in Class 4A, Region 2.

At least, that’s what it’s looking like this week, as the Bulldogs and Tigers prepare to duke it out for the ninth time in their history.

Andalusia’s record against fourth-ranked Straughn since they started playing each other in 1994 is 5-3. In their first contest, the Bulldogs lost 14-7.

After the 1995 season when Straughn won 21-20, the teams didn’t play each other until 2004, when Straughn won 10-0.

Then, Andalusia went on a three-game win streak from 2005 until 2007 under former coaches Tom Causey (2005-06) and Heath Harmon (2007).

In the past two years, Andalusia and Straughn have split wins. Straughn won in 2008, 50-26, and Andalusia won last season, 20-7.

I think it’s interesting that the teams have only met eight times.

Andalusia had its first football team in 1920, and Straughn in 1974.

Twenty years later, the rivalry began, and it’s a game a lot of fans look forward to every year.

It’s also one this sports editor is looking forward to as well.

I can only begin imagine what will possibly happen at the match up tomorrow night.

This season’s game will be at Straughn Tigers Stadium, a place conducive for watching high school football.

It’s going to be a packed house with standing room only, and I’m just as anxious as the players about this game.

Tomorrow night’s game will be history in the making.