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Biloxi vs Gulfport in a heated rivalry

By David Elliott - bio | email

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - There's nothing quite like an old fashioned high school football rivalry. On Friday, Gulfport and Biloxi meet at Biloxi High School's stadium in what is being billed as the oldest rivalry in the state.

Players and fans from both schools are getting ready for the annual showdown.

"It's always intense in that rivalry game," Biloxi businessman David Blaine said.

Blaine graduated from Biloxi High School in 1978 after playing football for the Indians. His twin sons, David and Matt, also played for Biloxi.

"It's not just bragging rights for that year, it's bragging rights for the rest of your life," the younger David Blaine said.

His brother Matt said the annual showdown between the two schools defines a season.

"You could be having a bad or a good season, but if you didn't beat Gulfport, it was a bad season," Matt Blaine said.

The Blaines typify how football can be a family affair. David Blaine married his high school sweetheart. Their daughter was a cheerleader for Biloxi High, and Blaine's sons followed their father's footsteps by putting on a red and white Biloxi Indians jersey.

Even though it's a big game, supporters of both teams form relationships that last a lifetime.

"I have close friends from Gulfport that we played against over the years, but it's always a big moment down the field," David Blaine said.

The rivalry match begins Friday at 7pm, and you can watch the game on WLOX-TV.

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