CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – It’ll be a full crowd at Tommy Steward Field on Friday night, as it always is when Central and Centennial meet for their annual rivalry clash.

It’s the WCIA 3 Friday Football Fever Spotlight Game of the Week for Friday, Sept. 5.

Both head coaches in this matchup played in the rivalry.

“As a player, we never beat them once,” Chargers’ head coach Kyle Jackson recalled.

However, he’s been able to change that as a coach. Centennial has won the last six meetings of this crosstown rivalry. It’s a trend the players feel a sense of responsibility to uphold.

“If it was to stop now that would put a negative narrative on us and that’s something nobody on this team wants,” Centennial senior linebacker/tight end Simeon Longo said.

No one needs to tell the players the importance of this game – they know. Instead, the challenge is often not making the game bigger than it is, and staying focused.

“They’re pretty good about getting up to play Central but focusing that energy in the right direction and making sure we’re using it productively,” Jackson said.

After losing 42-0 to Peoria High in week one, the Chargers feel like some people are already counting them out. They know a win against Central would help change that.

“I think in general we can most definitely bounce back, show them what we can do,” Centennial senior safety/wide receiver Eli Duma said. “Especially on offense seeing as we didn’t really do much on offense last week.”

The rivalry only gets more exciting when you consider the fact that both teams play their home games at Tommy Stewart Field behind Centennial High School. This year, the Maroons will be listed as the home team in this one.

“We all know who’s field this is.,” Longo said. “We all consider it Centennial’s field. I feel like when Central comes to this field they know it’s Centennial’s field.”

Click here for the game preview from the Maroons perspective.

WCIA will have live pregame coverage leading up to kickoff on Friday, plus highlights from the game at 10 p.m. on Friday Football Fever.