Tuscaloosa County High Travels to Hillcrest for Major Rivalry Game

It's that time of year again.  While the city of Tuscaloosa focuses on schools like Central, Bryant and Northridge, the county is getting ready for the biggest game in West Alabama.  Split from each other by the Black Warrior River, Tuscaloosa County and Hillcrest have formed an intense rivalry.  The city of Northport and surrounding communities dress out in Wildcat blue, while the citizens of Taylorville and Duncanville are adorned in Patriot red.  It's a game that has brought about the tradition of County High students hanging a banner from Railroad Bridge, though the administration at the school does not approve.  And it is also a game whose recent incarnations have produced wild finishes and overtimes.

But is this a rivalry that is in danger of losing its significance?  Beginning this season, the Alabama High School Athletic Association moved the largest of the 6A schools into a new 7A division.  While County High made the cut into the new division, Hillcrest remains a 6A school.  While bragging rights and familiarity breed rivalries, the impact of this region game is now gone.  Instead, County High's new regional opponents include Hoover, Spain Park, Oak Mountian and other schools mainly located in Jefferson County.  While alumni from both schools will still recognize the meaning of this game, will current students and players be as excited about a game that has no effect on postseason eligibility?

It would not be the firs time for County High that administrative decisions affected a traditional rivalry.  For many years, the Wildcats had a fierce series with the Central Falcons.  The game was the ultimate city vs county game, and pitted the school boards against each other as much as it did the schools themselves.  However, in 2003 the Tuscaloosa City School Board split up Central High School, sending roughly two thirds of its students to the newly created Paul W. Bryant and Northridge high schools.  Central was reduced to a 5A school, and the rivalry with TCHS was discontinued.  The Wildcats enjoyed brief rivalries with Northridge and Bryant when they became 6A schools, but neither became the opponent Central had been in the past.

For this year though, the County High-Hillcrest game is important for several reasons.  For the Wildcats, it's a chance to regroup.  After starting the season 3-0 and earning a #10 ranking in 7A, TCHS suffered a tough loss at Oak Mountain 27-6. Though this will be another road game, the chance to come back to the county to play could be the boost the Wildcats need to get their season back on track.  It won't come easy against a hungry Hillcrest team.  The Patriots began the season 0-2 before rebounding to win their last two games against Selma and Bessemer City.  With long-time powerhouses such as Hoover, Prattville and Vestavia Hills moving to 7A, the 6A division has become more open than ever, and the Patriots want to do more than just throw their hat in the ring.  A win over 7A TCHS would put Hillcrest on notice across the state.

As part of Inside Wildcat Football, which airs Wednesdays 8-9 pm CT live from Clark's Sports Pub and Grille on Highway 43 in Northport, Mick Gillispie and TCHS coach Lee Gibson gave a preview of the big game:

You can catch all the action as the Tuscaloosa County High School Wildcats take on the Hillcrest Patriots on Tide 99.1 FM and tide991.com Friday starting at 6:45 pm CT!