By Barrett Roberson.
Football plays Cooper in the Crosstown Showdown on Friday in order to secure bragging rights and improve their record to 2-0.
“Just like every year our number one goal is to put the best product we can on the field each and every week so that our fans, our school, and our community can be proud,” head coach Michael Fullen said. “We want to get better consistently every week.”
Although on paper there’s no difference between this game and any other game, there is no question that there is an extra significance to the Crosstown Showdown for the entire Abilene community.
“It’s just a chance for Abilene football,” senior quarterback Dylan Slack said. “Both sides of town are able to compete against each other. It’s a really special game for everybody in Abilene.”
While the magnitude of the game changes the atmosphere, for many of the players the rivalry goes back to childhood.
“There’s obviously the hype that goes on because everybody knows each other,” Fullen said. “They grew up with each other. They’ve been playing against each other since middle school.”
For the players, it’s this childhood rivalry that adds extra meaning to the game.
“It’s a lot different, you know, we grew up playing with and against those guys on the other team,” Slack said. “The atmosphere is way different than anything else.”
The magnitude of the game is felt by everyone involved, including the band, clarinet section leader Caleb Irwin said.
“Crosstown is a different standard,” Irwin said. “It’s like regular games. It’s fun, but when it’s Crosstown, it’s a big deal.”
Last year the Eagles beat the Cougars 14-10, but the team has higher expectations this year.
“Last year we won, but it was a close game,” Slack said. “Obviously I want to win. We all do, but I don’t want it to be a close game. I love those guys on the other side of town, but I want to blow them out of the water.”
