CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – In 2020, the Rossview Hawks and the Northeast Eagles battled each other at Rossview High School with the Hawks claiming a 7-4 victory.

No, you did not read that incorrectly. The Hawks scored a touchdown, and the Eagles forced two safeties in the game.

“Last year we made a funny comment on the headset,” said Rossview Head Coach Todd Hood. “I said, ‘Hey guys it’s in the 4th quarter, it’s a great baseball score, it’s the top of the 9th and it’s 7 to 4,’ I don’t think I’ve ever been in a 7 to 4 game in my life.”

Hood said he expects a battle again this year. Part of that comes from the showdown at the head coach spots. Hood and Northeast High School Head Coach Brandon Clark have been battling for many years before they were leading their current squads.

Battle of the coaches

“Coach Hood has been a thorn in my side the last couple of years,” said Clark, “not only here at Northeast and Rossview, but we also coached against each other at Houston County and Clarksville Academy, so his teams, no matter what kind of talent level he has, he is going to get the most out of them as possible.”

Hood agreed: “We’ve had some great battles in the past, I’ve won some, he’s won some. We’ve had some crazy games; last year was another one in a 7 to 4 game.”

In recent years, the Hawks have held the advantage over the Eagles, winning five consecutive meetings. You would have to go back to the 2015 season for the last win by the Eagles, when they beat Rossview 24-9; however, the rivalry is still alive and well between the programs.

“(Hood’s) team is going to be fired up, ready to play us, and they are going to give us the best they absolutely have, and I think our kids are going to be ready for that as well,” said Clark.

“Every time we play Northeast, they always have great athletes,” said Hood. “Brandon (Clark) does a great job coaching over there, and they are sort of like playing a small college.”

Battle of the quarterbacks

Another major battle to watch, besides the chess match between head coaches, will be the battle of two quarterbacks. Rossview received good news last week when Garrett Diemel was able to make his first start since going out against Wilson Central. As for Northeast, they will have their starter from the previous season on the field in Jaiden Puig. Even better, this will not be the last meeting between these two athletes as they are both members of the class of 2023.

Diemel’s return last week against Clarksville High School proved to be beneficial, as the offense was able to move more efficiently compared to the previous outing against Riverdale.

“(Garrett) knows the offense real well,” said Hood. “When we check or we get into different formations, he knows what to do, so I think that was important.”

As for Northeast, Puig offers a different style of play than Clark has been used to in the past.

“We are able to pass the ball as comfortably as I can remember at Northeast in the past couple of years,” said Clark. “We are starting to develop that, anyway.”

What’s at stake

For the Hawks, a win would be their first of the season after losing three consecutive games to Wilson Central, Riverdale and, most recently, Clarksville High School. Northeast is looking to even their record overall after a win in their opening week was followed by losses to Montgomery Central and Springfield.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. from Northeast High School.

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. tonight on Sports Night Clarksville, also on ESPN Clarksville.