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Taking Names and Keeping Score
Thomasville will bring an 8-1 record into this year's game while Clarke County will come in at 7-2. Both teams are bound for the state playoffs with Clarke County entering the 3A playoffs as the winner of Region 1 while Thomasville will enter the 4A playoffs as the runner-up in Region 1. This year's contest based on the records available will be the 9lst meeting between the two schools with the series dating back to 1917 when the two teams met three times. In that 90 year span there were five seasons including; 1917, 1919, 1922, 1942, and 1944 when the two schools played each other more than once. Likewise there were five years 1921, 1923, 1928, 1935, and 1943 when they did not play each other at all. Thomasville currently leads the series with 56 wins against Clarke County's 27 wins and the teams have tied seven times during that span. There have been periods during the ninety years when one team or the other has had extended winning streaks. There were even some years in the not too distant past when the game had playoff implications as well. Depending on one's perspective I have heard of some folks who have compared the rivalry in the game to that of Alabama- Auburn, Army - Navy, Florida - Florida State, Michigan- Ohio State, Texas - Texas A & M and so on, only on a smaller scale. Like it is in those and so many other great rivalries across this wonderful nation of ours, it is said, you basically can throw the record books out of the window when it comes time to play the Thomasville-Clarke County game. In support of that theory, the history of this series is filled with upset wins, margins of victory that surprised everybody involved, and unexpected heroes who rose to the occasion when their team needed them most. I would speculate that if there was some way to interview all the young men who have played for these two fine schools over the years, one of the things that would be consistent in the interview results would be the ability of most of them to recall in great detail just what happened in each of the Clarke County - Thomasville games they played in. I know from my own personal experience and from conversations I have had with many former players from both schools, such is the case with many of us. This year, just as it has been in all but seven of the past meetings between these two teams one of the two squads will emerge from the game enjoying the special thrill that comes from a win in a game like this while the other will go home and learn to live with the agony they feel from the loss. For the seniors from both teams the memory they take from this game whether good or bad will be one that will last for a lifetime. Those who are underclassmen will have a year to savor the win or continue to feel the pangs of defeat that will haunt their memory until they get another chance at a victory next year. For all of them, whether they are clad in Maroon and Gray or Blue and White, just getting the chance to participate in a game like this, where the shear intensity of play demands that each player give his best, will make all the practice and hard work worth it. And regardless of whether they win or lose the game they all will look back on it and be glad they were part of it. As for the rest of us, those who have been a part of this game in the past or those who have learned to appreciate it simply because of the kind of game it is, we have an opportunity to support our favorite team to the best of our ability while exhibiting great sportsmanship by showing due respect for those players, coaches and fans on the other side. If this rivalry is to continue being all it has been, all of us; players, coaches and fans will need to do our part. I hope you will join me in Grove Hill this Friday to do your part. You can bet the players and coaches will be there fully intending to do theirs. Until next time............................be safe!
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