Middle Creek's #4 Devone Johnson runs up field as Middle Creek rolls over Fuquay 52 to 21 Friday night August 31, 2012. (photo by Jack Tarr)
Sep 7, 2012
Sports fans have all heard the saying, "To be the man, you have to beat the man."
First year Middle Creek football coach Mike Castellano has a similar view when discussing Friday's game between Middle Creek and Garner.
"They're an established program, Middle Creek is too at some level, but not to that level," Castellano said.
Garner and Middle Creek have met at least once every year since 2005. In that time, Garner is 8-1 against the Mustangs, including a 2-0 mark in the playoffs.
The Trojans' average margin of victory against Middle Creek is 14 points.
"Obviously this school has only won one game against them, that's not a rivalry, that's kind of the big brother beating up the little brother in my mind," said Castellano.
To many of the players and fans though, the game between Garner and Middle Creek is nothing short of a bitter rivalry.
"We all had middle school with those kids, we grew up with them, went to the same elementary schools, so we want to get them as much as they want to get us," Middle Creek defensive back Marcus Bullock said.
"It's always a great atmosphere at the games, there's always a lot of noise, it can be hard trying to hear stuff," said Middle Creek quarterback David Salmon. "You just have to to block all of that out, do your job, execute and do what you need to do to win."
While no one argues that Friday's game is a big match-up, Middle Creek tries to keep it in perspective.
"We don't focus on this game being bigger than the other ones," Castellano said. "We talk each week about just being 1-0 at the end of the week."
Friday's game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at Middle Creek. If you can't make it to the game, you can watch a live, student-produced broadcast from Middle Creek's Sports Block. Click here for the broadcast.
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