TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Hurricane Hermine postponed or canceled several high school football games across South Georgia and North Florida in early September. Both St. John Paul II and Maclay's bye weeks fell on the same Friday, and good thing too, because there's a little extra fuel added to the fire this season.
St. John Paul II finished runners-up in last year's North Florida Football Conference Championship game, and Maclay wants nothing more than to get a win.
They'll have to stop Panther stand-out Sam Smith to do it, who Maclay head coach Lance Ramer said they've focused on this week to preparation for Friday's showdown.
"It's such a great opportunity," he said of getting the chance to play the game. "Both programs are having some success and so we want to build on it, they want to build on it, and what a great local rival."
"When we found out what date was earmarked for it, and they've just been back and forth," agreed JP2 head coach Cedric Jones. "A lot of these kids know each other too. They grew up in some of the same neighborhoods, went to the same middle schools. They're pretty jacked."
Jones added consistency will be key for his team to come out on top, adding special teams may be the difference maker. For Maclay? Their focus is stopping the run and winning the turnover battle.
Friday's match-up is slated for 7:30 at Maclay.
