This article is part of our “Throwback Thursday” series. This article is from our Aug. 7, 2003 files.

 

High school football fans might get want many of them have been asking for next season.

 

For the first since the mid-1990s, the Andalusia Bulldogs and the Straughn Tigers might meet on the gridiron for a varsity football contest.

 

First-year Andalusia head coach Tom Causey said the game is set.

 

“As far as I know, everything has been worked out. A contract hasn’t been signed, but I’ve been too worried about the 2004 and 2005 seasons,” Causey said.

 

Straughn head coach Trent Taylor said he and Causey have discussed the possibility of pitting the Tigers against the Bulldogs during the 2004 season.

 

“That’s being worked on,” Taylor said in an interview on Wednesday. “It would be such a good game.”

 

Causey said the game would kick off the season.

 

“We would play the first Thursday of the season at Andalusia and play there in 2005,” Causey said.

 

Taylor said some people might be against the idea, but now that the two schools are similar in enrollment it makes sense for the Bulldogs and Tigers to meet on the football field.

 

“Before, Andalusia was 5A and we were 2A. Andalusia had a lot to lose if they lost the game,” Taylor said. “Now, Andalusia is 4A and we are 3A. We already have some 4A teams on our schedule.”

 

Taylor said financial concerns are another reason for the two schools to play. The teams would benefit because there would not be a lot of travel expenses involved and it would command a nice gate.

 

“It would be a great game for the fans and we would make some money,” Taylor explained.

 

The two teams have only played twice, Taylor said. Straughn won the first game 14-7. Andalusia won the second game, and the last one played between the two schools, 21-20.

 

Causey said the game would be big.

 

“You’re talking about one of the top 3A programs in the state (Straughn) right here. Just eight miles away,” Causey said. “It could be a great rivalry – maybe even better than Andalusia-Opp.”

 

“It’s a natural rivalry,” he added.

 

Taylor said it could become an intense rivalry.

 

“It could be, but before it can be a rivalry there has to be some history,” Taylor said.

 

Andalusia begins the 2003 season with a preseason exhibition at W.S. Neal on Friday, Aug. 22. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Bulldogs begin the regular season with a road game against the Charles Henderson Trojans in Troy. The game will be the first football game played in the newly-renovated Movie Gallery Stadium on the campus of Troy State University.

 

Straughn begins the season with a preseason exhibition game against Geneva at 6:30 p.m. The game will be play at Straughn. The 2003 regular season opener for the Tigers is Aug. 28 at Pleasant Home.