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 impo