North Side High School looks to maintain possession of the Commissioner’s Cup for the fourth straight year when the Indians face rival South Side for the Commissioner’s Cup at 7 p.m., at North Side, Friday.

While this year’s contest may not have region or playoff implications, neither school is taking the game lightly for a trophy that is presented annually in the football series between North Side, South Side and Liberty.

“For the first time in three years, it’s not for a region championship or region standings,” said Tyler Reeder, South Side’s head football coach, “Two of the three years (game) has been for the region championship … this year, it’s big for our kids … it’s for a county championship.”

North Side (3-1, 5-3 overall) plays in Division 1, Class 4A, Region 7, and South Side – Division 1, Class 4A, Region 6 is 3-1, 3-5 overall.

Both Reeder and North Side head coach Jesse Powell said their players are talking about the game.

“They talk about it every year,” Reeder said, “From the time these kids are five- or six-years-old, they are playing (football) with each other – or against each other in county football.

“Hopefully this year, we get to bring the Cup to South Side.”

Jesse Powell said retaining the Cup is important, but it’s how well his team performs is important to him.

“You want to perform well,” Powell said, “It’s not necessarily winning the Cup, but performing well … if we perform well, essentially we win the Commissioner’s Cup.”

(PHOTO: Head football coaches Jesse Powell, North Side; left, and Tyler Reeder, South Side)