GAINESVILLE -- For one night, the Trojans and War Eagles can put away any sense of disappointment and agony over what might have been... and focus all their energy on one of the most intense rivalries in northeast Georgia -- and what might be because of it.<br />
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Chestatee and North Hall have each struggled through a-typical seasons in 2014, but that will do little to douse the flames of the "Battle for Highway 60," which will play out its 13th version on Friday at War Eagle Stadium in Gainesville.<br />
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"You want to win every game, but Chestatee is kind of special because we all know them; we're friends with them; we hate some of them," North Hall senior linebacker/offensive lineman Hayden Hughes said. "We just want to go over there and win. Our senior class has won over there all three years, so we want to keep it perfect."<br />
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The War Eagles are happy to return that emotional volley.<br />
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<b>(NOTE: To watch a video preview of the game, simply click "play" in the box to the right.)</b><br />
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"It's the biggest game of the year, always," Chestatee senior running back/defensive end Tray Bryant said. "We always have a little extra pep in our step on North Hall week. It's about the best week we put in work-wise the whole season. It's always been that way."<br />
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In fact this season may even bring a little something extra to the contest, as a victory represents more than just bragging rights for each program. With both teams -- which have each been playoff fixtures the past few seasons -- sporting 1-7 records, each enters the showdown understanding that a victory could establish big momentum for the offseason and mean bigger things in future seasons.<br />
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"I feel like we can get (this program) a lot of momentum heading into next season, where they can get a lot of wins, make the playoffs, go deep," Hughes said. "We've got a strong junior class coming up, and they'll have some experience under their belt."<br />
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Both teams are led by small senior classes that have taken it upon themselves to act as leaders and display the kind of tenacity that will make an impression.<br />
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"I think the legacy we're going to leave is not going to the playoffs but fighting to the end, finishing and hopefully we can win our last two games," Chestatee senior lineman Cody Kenimer said. "It being senior night and our last game in the home stadium, me being a senior, it's a plus making it North Hall. And I think we have a good chance of beating them if everybody does what they're supposed to do."<br />
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Despite tough campaigns there is plenty of reason for optimism on both sidelines. Each team has shown improvement throughout the season, which led to tangible success last week, as the Trojans stormed back to pull off their first win of the year, 38-35 over Monroe Area. The War Eagles, meanwhile, put a huge scare into White County, taking a 21-7 first half lead before succumbing in the second half to the playoff-hopeful Warriors.<br />
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"I've seen several of (Chestatee's) games, and they're kind of a mirror of us," North Hall coach David Bishop said. "They're very young; they have a small senior class; they lost a majority of starters from last year, and they are getting better. I think what happened to them is the same that's happened to us. A lot of their kids have to go both ways, and the schedule has kind of gotten to them. But most definitely they're getting better."<br />
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The War Eagles showed an explosive facet to their offense that caught White County by surprise last week, attempting 25 passes and completing 14 for 247 yards and three touchdowns -- which, allied with its typically-powerful ground game, could mean for big things in the future.<br />
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"I think we finally evolved to be the offense we could be in the beginning (of the season) and it's just taken baby steps with a young team," War Eagles coach Bill Forman said. "You can't go on to the next step until you've mastered one; it's been a slow process this season, but we're finally getting to where we wanted to be at the start of the season. But it's been fun to see the evolution of the offense to what we thought it could be."<br />
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Certainly the performance -- which featured a starring role for running backs A.J. Sijiye (who attempted 17 of those passes), Marvin Rosario (3 receptions, 159 yards, 2 TDs) and Bryant (91 yards rushing)
