CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – In Clarksville, expansion does not seem to stop. Since 2000 there have been two public high schools built, and there is still talk about more growth in the near future. When it comes to high school football, growth means new rivalries; however, one rivalry in this area stands the test of time: Clarksville High versus Northeast.

In recent years, the Clarksville-Rossview rivalry has become one of the most contested in the area, but ask any Eagle or Wildcat from the 1980s through the early 2000s and they will be the first to tell you about this rivalry.

“It’s a rivalry for a different decade,” said Clarksville High School Head Coach Isaac Shelby. “People that graduated in the (1980s) and (1990’s) look at Northeast as (rivals).”

2020 double feature

For the most recent matchups between these two squads, you only have to look back to the previous season. The two teams would square off during the regular season with the Eagles dominating the Wildcats, 44-14; however, the two teams met again in the second round of the TSSAA state playoffs with the Eagles getting a last second interception to hold off the ‘Cats, 17-15. It was the second time in a decade that the two teams battled twice in a season, with the final game coming down to just a few points. The other year was 2010, which the Eagles would also win, 6-3.

“We’re different, they’re different,” said Northeast Head Coach Brandon Clark. “They’ve lost some key players, we’ve lost some key players. They’ve had injuries. We’ve had a host of injuries recently against Portland. Regardless of what records are, it’s always a big game.”

Shelby said last year was difficult, “especially the regular season game. It was probably the worst game we played all season. I was proud to see the kids bounce back like they did in the playoffs.”

Eagles’ tough start

The 2021 season has been rough on the Eagles as they enter Friday’s game against the Wildcats with only one win and four losses. The Eagles began the season with a blowout victory over West Creek before losing four straight to Montgomery Central, Springfield, Rossview and, most recently, Portland.

The Eagles most recently lost to the Panthers after failing to score a two-point conversion. Northeast trailed 21-14 with around a minute left against the Panthers when they scored, but a Panthers defensive stand on the two-point try proved to be the difference in the game.

Wildcats woes at Beech

As for the Wildcats, Week 5 featured a trip to Hendersonville as Clarksville High faced new region foe, Beech. Clarksville High had a chance on their first offensive drive to score a touchdown but ended up getting stalled by the Buccaneers. Later in the first half a fumble in the red zone kept the Wildcats scoreless.

Beech would score at will on several long plays. Clarksville High School would get their lone score on a pass from Jamar Carnell to Robert Riley; however, Beech would claim victory, 40-7, over the Wildcats, which dropped CHS to 3-2 on the season.

Tale of the tape

Athleticism will be on display this Friday nigh at Clarksville High School. The Eagles bring in some of the top skills players in the area with Dez Fort and Ty’Kease Blanton.

“Our starting running back, (Kham) Athey, went out against Rossview,” said Clark. “We didn’t have him, so we had one of our slots, Ty’Kease Blanton, (move) to running back. He did a great job, Friday; he was about a yard shy of 100 yards rushing.”

“It’s kind of hard to control that much athleticism because it’s everywhere,” said Shelby. “They’ve got it in their receivers, they’ve got it in their backs. … It’s a really athletic team that is capable of doing some crazy things sometimes.”

The Wildcats bring out a pair of backs that split time in the run game and at quarterback. Jamar Carnell and Rayshawn Bowling split time taking snaps, but also can play other spots in the backfield.

“I think it’s kind of week-to-week and drive-to-drive. The good thing is Ray and Jamar are good buddies, they both want to win, so whoever we have at quarterback, they are OK with and the other one just moves back to their normal position,” said Shelby.

Of the quarterback situation, Clark said, “A lot of people may be licking their chops, they know their quarterback is out, but Rayshawn Bowling, who they replaced (Davin Garinger) with, he is no slouch. He is a pure athlete.”

The Shelby Bowl

This story cannot be finished without the mention of what fueled the fire between these two teams in the 2010s. During the 2008-09 season, the Northeast Eagles gained a new offensive coordinator. That coordinator happened to be Clarksville High graduate and offensive coordinator of the 2007 region champion Wildcats, Isaac Shelby.

It was just enough to restart a fire in a somewhat dormant rivalry. The 2008-09 season saw a close battle between the two teams, with the Wildcats edging out the Eagles. Having been personally coached by Coach Shelby during the previous two seasons, it was a game that would not be easily forgotten because it was the first time CHS faced their former coach.

The next few years would be different, though, as Shelby took the head coaching spot with the Eagles and saw great success including multiple playoff runs that culminated in a trip to the state semifinals.

In 2014, Shelby would receive an offer that let him return to his alma mater and become head coach at Clarksville High. It was an opportunity that Shelby could not turn down and has now spent the last eight seasons with the Wildcats, which has only continued to help the rivalry grow.

Game time

Friday night, the Wildcats and Eagles will meet again. A win will not help either team in their region due to the Wildcats being moved up to 6A this season, but it will be for bragging rights in the city.

A win for Clarksville High would improve them to 4-2 on the season. For the Eagles, a win would improve their record to 2-4 and snap a four-game losing streak.

Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. from Hilda J. Richardson Stadium.

Be sure to catch the game live on ESPN Clarksville 104.1 FM/540 AM and listen to the full interviews with the coaches starting at 6 p.m. Friday on Sports Night Clarksville, also on ESPN Clarksville.