Cape, Jackson high schools gear up for Friday's rivalry game

With bragging rights on the line, Central and Jackson high schools will square off on the gridiron at 7 p.m. Friday in what will be Cape Girardeau's homecoming game.

Central leads the series 58-42-7. The Tigers' record this year is 4-1, and Jackson Indians, 5-0.

"It's a friendly rivalry. I think it has become more friendly over the years. The communities are so close together. We have so many people who overlap by marriage and profession. At the same time, it is a rivalry, no question," Central High School principal Mike Cowan said.

Brian Greenlee, an assistant principal at Jackson High School, said a lot of the students have friends in Cape Girardeau and all the kids know each other. He said it's good for both schools.

"Most high schools have an archrival," Cowan said. "Ours, traditionally, is Jackson. The old-timers will love to tell you ... stories about how unfriendly the rivalry was. I think there's probably heightened passion in the game, because it is a rivalry, and because it is one of the largest, if not the largest, athletic event in Southeast Missouri."

Both schools have T-shirts made for the big game, and this year, the campuses are having pep assemblies Friday and spirit week this week with themed dress days such as Tie Dye Day, Nerd Day, College Day and America Day.

Central will hold its fall homecoming dance and coronation Saturday evening in the JV gym.

Jackson's gathering will spotlight athletes from fall sports, with an emphasis on the football players, and performances by the band and choir. "We really try and involve everyone as much as we can," said sponsor Halley Russell.

Everyone will do the cha-cha slide and play games, and the senior athletes will be introduced, with emphasis on the football players, Russell said.

Central fans cheer as the Tigers take on Jackson in September 2013. (Southeast Missourian file)

The atmosphere at both schools this week has been expectant, and students at both schools say it's going to be a good game. They admire each other, but at the same time, both want to be victorious.

Jackson quarterback Dante Vandeven stands dressed in red, white and blue for America Day on Wednesday as part of spirit week at Jackson High School. (GLENN LANDBERG)

"Overall, I think the tone of the school is excitement," senior Ryan May said. "There's just pretty much of a buzz. Everyone's excited."

"The energy's different," junior Riley Knight said. " ... It's something that brings us all together. We have common ground."

T.J. Marquis, a senior defensive tackle for the Tigers, said he wants a win in this game because they lost to Ladue, Missouri, last week, something he said they shouldn't have done. He said practices have been more serious this week, as well.

Jackson fans cheer as the Indians take on Central in September 2013. (Southeast Missourian file)

"We always play better against rivals. When there's [a rivalry], there's always a little bit added to it. I think it makes everyone go a little harder," Marquis said.

De'ja Reddin, a Central cheerleader, is looking forward to the pep rally. "It just kind of energizes us more seeing the student body together talking about the game. It's kind of like a big support system," she said.

With its undefeated record on the line, Jackson students and players say they want to maintain their winning ways. However, senior Curtis Schilling said things have been pretty calm this week.

"We're not really mad at Cape; it's just a rivalry that's fun to have. It's fun to see which one is best," Schilling said. " ... The game's going to be good this year. I went to Cape's game, and their team is pretty stout this year. It's going to be a fun little match."

Faith Detweiler, a senior, is in the color guard, and Megan Hawk, a junior, is on the drum line for Jackson.

" ... This year is really big for me because I'm a senior and I want to go out with a win," Detweiler said.

Senior running back and outside linebacker Ethan Isaksen and fellow senior, Dante Vandeven, the quarterback, agree. Isaksen added that while the squad wants a win, it's keeping an eye on state, district and conference victories.

"My class has beat Cape every year, and we don't want that to change this year," Isaksen said. "The whole school's in on it. Everyone's always saying good luck in the hallway, do you best, make us proud. ..."

Both he and Vandeven are also getting encouragement and questions from people outside school wondering how they're feeling this week. Vandeven said there are a lot of nerves going into the game, but the coaches are trying to keep the team calm.

Something that should help, even though they're playing away, is the short distance between Jackson and Cape Girardeau.

"You don't have home-field advantage, but being 10 to 15 minutes away, we'll have our home crowd," Vandeven said.

A Jackson Indians shirt printed for Friday’s rivalry game against Central sits on the counter of the student store Wednesday at Jackson High School. (GLENN LANDBERG)

Schilling said he expects security to be beefed up. Two years ago, Jackson spectators got overexcited and decided to run around the Central High School track, which didn't go over well. He added there are some students in the crowd who get "overdramatic" and fight.

Cowan said the Tigers and Indians play each other every year, but at alternate sites. This is the second time Central has hosted Jackson in the new Tiger Stadium. Two years ago, some 6,500 people turned out. This year, the stadium could have upward of 7,000 people. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for students.

"When we do basketball, it's more like 2,000 [people]. Football draws more people," Cowan said. Because there are more players, cheerleaders, dance team and band members, plus more parents, relatives and friends, there are more spectators.

"Also, it's our fall homecoming. That hasn't always been the case in years past," Cowan said.

Homecoming games often pit easy opponents against the home team, but that's not true in this case.

" ... This is going to be a very tough game for us," Cowan said. "We are not picking an easy opponent for homecoming," he added.

Parking will be available on the Central campus, but there also are spots at Southeast Health, 789 S. Mount Auburn Road. Cowan said attendees will be allowed to park there and take a free Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority shuttle to the school and back.

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