AUDIO: If Recent Meetings Are Any Indication, War Of I-74 Promises Drama

Listen to East Central versus Harrison on Eagle Country 99.3 starting at 6:40 p.m. Friday.

Harrison's Jayce Fette caught a game winning touchdown in overtime to give Harrison a 27-24 victory over East Central on August 25, 2017. Photo courtesy of Sandy Mahoney.

(Harrison, Oh.) – There are rivalry games, and then there are rivalry games.

East Central versus Harrison is one of the latter. The series boats two big football programs, geographic proximity, friends and families split among their allegiances, and competitive meetings almost every time they meet.

As an East Central player and graduate, Harrison Wildcats head coach Derek Rehage knows all about the close ties between the two border schools.

 “(East Central Coach Don Stonefield) called the offense when I was a senior. He taught me a lot about being a head coach. I worked under him for three years,” Rehage said on Eagle Country 99.3 Friday morning.

Listen to Eagle Country 99.3's interview with Harrison Wildcats head football coach Derek Rehage.

Harrison won last year’s game in St. Leon in comeback fashion. After a large cloud of baby powder dust from the Harrison student section delayed the second half start, Harrison overcame a 21-0 deficit to steal a 27-24 overtime win. The Wildcats defense held EC to a field goal on the first possession of OT. On the next possession Harrison quarterback Frankie Young threw the game winner to Jayce Fette. Young, since graduated, had a big night with four total touchdowns. EC senior Logan Storie led the Trojans offense with 180 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Four straight meetings between these two schools have been decided by four points or less. And fans should stick around until the end, as each of those recent games has been decided within the last minute.

Rehage said he spoke to former East Central coach Justin Roden after the Trojans went on to win the IHSAA 4A State Championship. Roden told him that the Harrison loss sent EC on a roll winning 11 of their next 13 games all the way to the title.

“But I think this game is different. We graduated 14 seniors from a year ago. I think it will be a good battle this year,” Rehage said.

It’s about as close as a series can get. East Central has won 12 of the past 23 meetings with Harrison.

You can hear the 2018 edition of the War of I-74 on Eagle Country 99.3. Live coverage from Bill Kuntz Field starts at 6:40 p.m. on 99.3 FM and www.eaglecountryonline.com.