After winning the Madison County Commissioners’ Cup in 2023, the North Side Indians look to return the hardware to the Reservation after surrendering it to Jackson Central-Merry in 2024.
Problem is, the South Side Hawks got a good feel for the trophy in 2021 and 2022, and Liberty High School would like to get in on the action.
The Commissioners’ Cup has been awarded annually since 2018 to the team that compiles the most wins in games between the four public high schools.
North Side, which has laid claim to the trophy four times – including the first three – and JCM get out of the gate first – when they open the 2025 season at Lane Stadium.
The game will serve as a home game for JCM, while the Cougars await the completion of its new stadium at the corner of Lane Avenue and Edgewood Avenue next to Oman Arena.
“JCM will be tough,” Woodrow Lowe Jr., said. “We want to win, but it won’t be easy. The Cup is important to the kids … but you still want to win the district (title). There are goals and (Commissioners’ Cup) is the first one.”
Woodrow Lowe Jr., is in his third year as head football coach at North Side High School. He was in attendance with the three other public school head coaches during a media event at Rock N Dough Pizza, Tuesday.
Erit Turner enters his fifth year at Jackson Central-Merry, and the Cougars look to build on a 9-3 finish in 2024, which included a massive 47-38 win at traditional powerhouse Milan.
“No better way to start the season,” said Turner, about Friday’s North Side game. “We’ve been working hard this off-season and we’re looking forward to putting a good product on the field.”
The climb upwards continues at South Side High School, where head coach Lester Narcisse doubled the win totals in 2024.
“We’re moving in the right direction … one game at a time,” Narcisse said. “We haven’t touched the (Commissioners’) Cup since I’ve been here … it’s one of our goals.”
The Hawks, who have won the Cup twice, open the season at Milan, Friday, followed by their home opener against JCM, August 29.
Winning the Commissioners’ Cup would seem like a state title to Liberty – who plays as an independent – and opens the 2025 season at home against Innovation Academy of Robertson County, Friday.
“The kids have bought in to what we are trying to do,” said Robert Gillard, Liberty’s head coach. “We want to win the Cup. We can’t go to the (state) playoffs, so the Cup (would) be our championship.”
