It is finally game time for the Gentry High Rams football team.
And an unexpected opponent at an unexpected location will serve as the competition for this Friday’s 7 p.m. 2021 season-opener.
It will be the Louisville High Wildcats who will host the Rams this Friday night after original opponent Greenville High recently canceled due to COVID concerns.
The Wildcats also lost their original opening game opponent, West Point High, to COVID, a situation which opened the door for the Gentry High Rams to play this upcoming contest.
After strapping on their headgear for the first time since November of 2019, the Rams will step onto Louisville High’s R.E. Hinze Stadium where they will battle the defending 4A state champion.
While Gentry High has never played Louisville High on a football field, last season the Wildcats were able to play their schedule and accumulated a 13-1 championship record.
Their lone loss occurred in the second week of that season by way of a 24-14 decision to Starkville High School.
A rich football history is also owned by Louisville High School.
A 10-time state champion, the Wildcats have claimed the crown twice within the past four seasons.
Impressively, the Wildcats represent a program which has also registered 11 or more victories in each of the last four seasons.
Per Gentry’s Coach Mario Young, “We hope to see a big and safe crowd at the stadium this Friday. The fans are excited, the kids are excited, and we are excited. We just want to keep playing each and every week.”
This Friday’s trip to Louisville High School will be the Rams’ second in as many weeks. It was just last Friday when Coach Young’s squad participated in an evening of scrimmages hosted by that Winston County school.
However, Coach Young is optimistic about his 2021 squad following their scrimmage played at Louisville High School last week.
Facing 5A member Columbus High School, the Rams suffered a 9-0 loss in the action, but Coach Young observed “We really looked good defensively. I am excited about what we can do on that side of the ball.”
