Whether its the early summer heat, the close proximity of the teams represented or simple state pride, the annual Tennessee-Georgia prep football game’s intensity level has separated it from typical all-star matchups. A fight has broken out during three of the six games, including two years ago when the benches cleared, forcing officials to call the game with seconds remaining.
The seventh annual border war football game kicks off tonight at 7:30 at Baylor, with Tennessee leading the series 4-2, including wins each of the last two years.
“The first day of practice, we emphasized to the kids that its now their turn to represent their state and carry the torch for our area,” said Tennessee coach Grant Reynolds, who has been an assistant for all but one of the games in this series. “There’s just a lot of pride when these kids come together and represent their state. These kids are all-stars for a reason. They’re all very talented and very competitive.”
Reynolds said the Tennessee staff has been impressed with running backs Jackie Reeves of Brainerd and Red Bank’s Keon Williams during this week’s practices. Reeves is still uncommitted on where he will play in college, while Williams is a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga signee. This game has worked as a showcase for several past players who used it as a springboard to earn late scholarship offers.
Soddy-Daisy athlete P.J. Hubbard has worked out his college future this week, just before tonight’s game. Hubbard, who played running back and defensive back for the Trojans, accepted an invitation from Middle Tennessee State University assistant David Bibee to walk on this fall, with the chance to earn a scholarship next year.