Trion football coach Justin Brown will lead a group of former Bulldogs in an alumni game against Gordon Lee on Friday at the Trojans' Billy Neil Ellis Stadium in Chickamauga, Ga.CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. - Georgia's longest continuous high school football rivalry will be taken to a new level Friday night when Trion and host Gordon Lee battle for supremacy at Billy Neil Ellis Stadium.
What that level is, however, is up for debate, because it will be alumni from the bitter rivals suiting up one more time to settle old disputes, renew friendships and try not to pull hamstrings.
"This is going to be a train wreck," joked current Trion coach Justin Brown, who will lead the Bulldogs alumni. "Some are starting to call it the 'Chickamauga Massacre.' You don't want to watch, but you can't help yourself."
Southeastern Football Rivals is organizing the event. Led by Cartersville High School assistant coach Michael Bale, the organization holds alumni games as a way for schools to raise much-needed money and old gridiron stars to relive their glory days - and get a reminder of just how old they are.
"Well, it's going to be interesting," Gordon Lee coach Greg Ellis said. "I had them run about four sprints the other day and they were cramping up.
"They're having a good time, though. It's good to get these guys back together and be a part of it. There's been some smack talk, but that won't last too long because they're going to be out of breath."
Ellis has 30 players, while Brown has 35. There also will be action on the sidelines as alumni band members and cheerleaders participate.
Among the Gordon Lee players are the legendary Nootie Abbott, the oldest Trojan at 56, and more recent stars Jordan Afman, Justin Buckner and Kyle Clarkston.
On the Trion roster is Daniel Calhoun, one of the top running backs in school history, former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga player Adam Lee, current Bulldogs wrestling coach and former player Eric Brock, and Randy Peace, one of the school's famed "Four Horsemen."
Greg Baker will also suit up in Trion blue and white. The tight end/defensive end, who graduated in 1982, is taking time off from his day job as an Army Ranger to play.
Baker was in Nicaragua when he found out about the game and immediately began working to set up leave so he could fly home. He has reconnected with old friends and teammates and said the experience has already been worthwhile.
"There's only two of us in the class of 1982, me and Charles Bynum," said Baker, who has completed several tours of duty in Afghanistan. "I hadn't seen him for a long time. We've both been in the military; he's in the Air National Guard and lives in Warner Robins.
"It's funny. A lot of these kids out here, I played football with their dads. It's a great experience. Who wouldn't take the chance to do this one more time?"
The game is all in fun, but for participants, the chance to wear the uniform one more time is worth any amount of pain they have to endure. The great majority never played the game beyond high school.
"There's a guy from the 1988 team, Jim Brooks, when he found out about the game he literally broke down in tears to have the opportunity to play again," Brown said. "Once you take the pads off, your career is over and you don't get that chance, so there are some guys who are really looking forward to the opportunity to not only play football again, but to play Gordon Lee."
Count Baker in that group. He caught his first varsity pass against the Trojans and admits he's going to remind them that his class went 3-1 against them. Like everyone else he intends to enjoy the moment, but there's a part of him that yearns for the competition.
"I hope we just have fun and it becomes an event we can do every year to raise money for both schools," Baker said. "I hope nobody gets hurt really bad.
"However, don't let me sound like I don't want to punish them, because I do. I just want to have fun doing it."
Advance tickets for the game, which will start with introductions at 7, are $10 at either school or at the Bank of Chickamauga. Tickets will be $12 at the gate.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.