VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - For 56 years, Lowndes and Valdosta High School have battled it out for bragging rights with the match-up being dubbed the Winnersville Classic.
There's nearly 30 State Championships shared between these two, hence the moniker, but they'll tell you winning this game just means a little more.
This one is about as big of a rivalry as you can get and one that historically Valdosta has dominated.
37 wins to Lowndes 19, although Lowndes has won 10 of the last 14, including a 45-0 victory last season.
Both Viking's coach Randy McPherson and Valdosta's Alan Rodemaker will tell you though, when it comes to Winnersville, the past doesn't mean anything.
Both schools, looking to play clean football Friday night, after all, bragging rights are on the line.
"This is the Super Bowl right here. It always has been. I'm certainly not going to try and downplay this game. It's important, it really is," said Rodemaker. "It's not a region game, it's not a playoff game, but other than that, it's certainly the biggest game on our schedule."
"It's a unique rivalry in the fact that we have to live together. We go to church together, we play golf together, see each other uptown," said McPherson.
Lowndes defeated Valdosta 71-35 Friday night.
