Friday, the T.R. Miller Tigers and W.S. Neal Eagles will face off in the regular season for the 70th time. The two teams have also played three times in the playoffs.

This season the Tigers are 8-1 and the Eagles are 7-2. Both teams are playoff bound when the season ends Friday night, but before any talk of playoffs begins, there is the Battle of Murder Creek.

Last year’s BOMC game came down to the last play resulting in a Miller win on a two-point conversion.

This year both TRM head coach Jamie Riggs and WSN head coach Doug Hoehn said the game will have the same intensity it’s had through the many years.

“These games are usually close,” said Riggs. “Last year was a close game that came down to the final play, I expect it to be no different this year.”

Hoehn’s opinion paralleled that of Riggs.

“I think both teams in this game both play their best game all season,” Hoehn said. “Through my experience this game comes down to turnovers and penalties.

“So I think the team that executes the best, takes care of the football and doesn’t have penalties is usually the team that comes out on top.”

Neal is averaging 33.6 points per game this season. A big part of their offensive game is their rushing game and ability to make the big play. Riggs said that will be the biggest challenge for his defense come Friday’s game.

“They have great offensive lineman that block really well,” Riggs said. “They have a couple great running backs. That is going to be a challenge to deal with. We’re going to have to play as good of defense as we have all season.

“They have big played a lot of teams this season, so we have to find a way to limit their big plays,” he said of the Tigers.

Opponents are scoring an average of 13.5 points against the Tigers.

Hoehn believes that though there is only one winner that will come out of Friday’s game, both teams will give it their all.

“I think both programs know each other very well,” Hoehn said. “When we play I don’t think it’s so much what we run versus what they run. I think it’s just both teams showing up to play real hard.

“Both teams always show a lot of class. Usually the games come down to a play or two.”

Overall, the Tigers lead the head-to-head match ups, winning 51 to Neal’s 21.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at W.S. Neal.

The BOMC is nominated for Best Rivalry Game of the Week by the Great American Rivalry Series.

If the game wins the schools involved will receive awards and have the audio broadcast of the game streamed live and archived on the website.

To learn more about the awards and to vote visit greatamericanrivalry.com. Voting polls close Oct. 30 at 5 p.m.