For the first time in 51 years, Trion and Chattooga will square off in a regular season football game this Friday night at Sam R. McCain stadium in Trion.  At one time, Trion and Chattooga engaged in one of the fiercest rivalries in northwest Georgia and one could argue one of the fiercest in the entire state once upon a time.

The last time these two teams played was on Friday night October 1, 1971.  Future Alabama and Georgia defensive coordinator Joe Kines was the head coach at Chattooga and Clarence Blevins was the head man at Trion.  Kines was on his way to bigger jobs at the college level and Blevins was 3 years away from winning a state championship game for the Bulldogs.

The game was played at the Little Big Horn in Summerville.  Prior to that night in 1971, Chattooga had trounced Trion 48-0 on Trion’s home turf the year before in 1970.  The Indians had won 4 in a row over the Bulldogs and 6 of the last 7 game dating back to 1963.  But the final game between these two teams in 1971 ended in a stalemate.  A 0-0 tie.  The record books would stand still for the next 51 years.  The two teams would meet for some preseason scrimmages many years later but it was never the same.

Friday night, a tradition will be reborn.  Two teams that are just a few miles apart will meet again in a game that counts for something.  A large crowd will be on hand and it will be a great moment in local sports for Chattooga County to see these two proud programs square off on the gridiron once again to rekindle a rivalry that has been dormant for way too long.

In honor of Friday night’s game, WZQZ is releasing archival footage of the 1971 Trion vs Chattooga game.  The original film reels were provided to WZQZ by Ralph Tomlin who played for the Bulldogs.  The film was scanned and restored for all to enjoy.

Click here to watch the Trion vs Chattooga game from 1971 on YouTube.