SHOWDOWN IN SWAMPTOWN

Sports rivalries are everywhere. There's Louisville vs. Noxubee (congrats Wildcats!), Philadelphia vs. Neshoba Central, Miss State vs. Ole Miss, Alabama vs. Auburn, Cowboys vs. Redskins, and the list goes on and on. But what makes a great rivalry? Is it close proximity of the two schools? Is it just tradition? Is it geographic location like North vs. South or East vs. West? Or maybe it is just a deep down dislike for the other team.

Well whatever it is, this weeks rivalry game has most if not all of these qualities. It's time for the annual showdown between the Nanih Waiya Warriors and the Noxapater Tigers on Thursday, November 3rd at Nanih Waiya. This is the week when all Warrior fans grit their teeth when they see anything red and Tiger fan's blood pressures rise when they see things maroon.

Separated by only a few miles and the Tallahaga Swamp, these two schools have been bitter rivals since they started playing each other. The Tigers lead the series overall in wins and have had several long winning streaks over the years. The Warriors, however, have dominated since 2001 with 8 victories during that time and winning the last 5 years in a row.

Many of the games through the years have been “knock-down, drag-out” wars. In the fall of 1975 the Tigers won a hard fought 6 to 0 battle. In the fall of 1993 the Warriors came out victorious in a 17-16 back and forth contest. And there have been blowouts as well like the 33-0 beating that the 1986 Tigers put on the Warriors and the 42-6 whooping that the 2009 Warriors put on the Tigers.

To say that this is a bitter rivalry is a major understatement. People who are nice and cordial to each other all year are suddenly transformed into trash-talking enemies for the week. Some even go as far as making bets like “If we lose I will wear your team's shirt and sit on your side next year.” (Isn't that right Mike? LOL). Some may even use the word “hate” when referring to the other school. And the coaches get in on it too. Coach David Chambliss, who coached the Warriors in the 1980's and 90's, gave his 1986 team that lost to the Tigers one of the hardest practices the Monday after the game that he had given any team. The other coaches like Buck Kennedy, Red Hatcher, and Mickey Taylor probably had the same feeling as Chambliss after a loss as would Coach Peterson and Coach Hanna if they lose.

For years this game was played as the first game of the season. Then it was moved to the middle of the season until this year. When the football schedules for this season came out, Warrior and Tiger fans saw that it would be the final game of the year for both teams and said that this is going to be a major game. And those fans were right. This game has more riding on it than just who wins the rivalry bragging rights. Both teams are undefeated in Region 3-1A and will battle it out for the district championship.

Thursday night, once the lights are turned on, the prayer is given, and the National Anthem is sung, none of the trash talking and jabbing back and forth between fans and players will matter. By then it will be up to the players on the field to give it their all and fight their way to victory.

So if you are coming through the Tallahaga Swamp any night this week stop and listen for a minute. Amongst the howls of coyotes and the occasional scream of a black panther, you will hear shouts from the east saying “Go Warriors!”, and from the west you will hear “Go Tigers!” And on Thursday night come on down to Warrior Field and enjoy some great football.
Jerry Hemphill