There's a simple reason why none of the North Garland football players remembers the last time their school beat Garland -- they hadn't been born yet.

While the two schools lie just 1.8 miles apart and play every year in District 10-5A, North Garland hasn't won since 1991.

"Man, I wasn't even born," said senior running back Brandon Jones. "That's been 18 games. We gotta stop it."

Both teams remain the last unbeatens in District 10-5A and have a lot to win and lose Friday night at Williams Stadium. Garland (6-1, 4-0) can lock up at least a share of the district title with a win, and North Garland (5-3, 3-0) can earn the Raiders' first playoff berth since 2004, gain the inside track to the district title with only two games remaining in the season and, of course, get rid of that 18-year-old monkey on their backs.

While Garland has dominated the win column, the streak is misleading -- the games recently have been close with all but one of the last five decided by a touchdown or less.

"We've had some awfully good games, and they're always close, but they just always win 'em," North Garland head coach David Farris said. "We just can't get over the hump."

For Garland, South Garland is the Owls' oldest and fiercest rival, but for the Raiders the Garland game is the one they circle at the start of the season.

Garland is the team in the district that has the most tradition and success. In a district that allows open enrollment, the Owls ride that reputation to the largest, and usually most successful teams. They're the team to beat.

These kids grew up together, played on the same playgrounds, hung out at the same malls, swam at the same pools in the summers and have been battling on the field since middle school -- games the Raiders say they dominated back in the day. But ever since high school, the Owls have done the winning, and they're not afraid to let the Raiders know about it.

"We feel like they act like they've already won the game," said quarterback Anthony McGhee, who has committed to UTEP and leads the North Garland read-option spread offense with 862 yards rushing and nine touchdowns.

"A lot of people look down on North Garland, and we feel like we have a lot to prove, honestly," added Jones, who's turned in 405 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

Can't blame the Owls after 18 years of wins. Even when they went 3-7 in 2007, they still beat North Garland, 17-14. Garland is the football magnet in the district, and North Garland is the math and science magnet. As Jones points out, "we don't get too many athletes." The Raiders went 5-5 last year and hadn't even sniffed the playoffs since losing a tiebreaker in 2006.

Nobody expected this game to decide the district title. Not Garland's Jeff Jordan.

"No, I didn't think this would be it, but I'm not completely surprised either," he said. "They've done a really good job over there, and Coach Farris has them playing well."

Not even Farris. Not even after his team came into the season confident with six returning starters on both sides of the ball and well-conditioned after a summer program that had the Raiders' field house busting at the seams with athletes.

"Winning district is something we had as a goal, but it's not something we really expected," Farris said. "The road goes through Garland, and we always have beating Garland as one of our biggest goals."

Now, for the first time in a long time, the Raiders find themselves on equal ground with Garland and thinking about the end of 18 years of suffering.

"If we win, then I'm gonna celebrate Friday night and Saturday," McGhee said. "Then, Sunday it's back to work."

Sort comments by: Most Recent | First Posted