In what has been a traditional cross-town rivalry for 29 years, Ft. Dale Academy and Greenville Academy will once again square off on the gridiron for the Sasser-Williams trophy.

Ft. Dale initially hosted the game, and it began rotating between the two schools after that. This year it will be on Academy Drive at Greenville Academy at Jim Autrey Field.

The trophy is named after Greenville Tigers Charles Woodrow Sasser and Van Williams, who were both sophomores at the time they joined forces in 1941,

and by the 1942 season, they were a force to be reckoned with n Williams at quarterback and at fullback.

In 1944, Sasser, inducted into the Army, and Williams, in the Marine Corps, went to serve their country as did many other American young men.

Sasser lost his life on Mar. 8, 1945 after he was struck in the back by German anti-personnel shrapnel.

Williams served in the Pacific theatre, during the last year of the war with Japan, and later in the Korean Conflict.

Williams was survived by his wife, Sarah Nell Langford, son, James Britton and daughter Sarah Catherine, when he succumbed to cancer, on Nov. 2, 1971.

The Sasser-Williams Bowl was started in 1972, and has been played every year since in memory of two courageous Greenville athletes.

Ft. Dale Eagles' head coach Speed Sampley said his team is pumped for the game.

&uot;We know that Greenville Academy is excited about football because they have won some games lately, but we've gotten pretty used to having the trophy over here, and we'd like to keep it here,&uot; said Sampley. &uot;We will be ready to play, too. We will be ready for their offense and their defense.&uot;

The G.A. Tornados, equally as adrenalized for the match, are not going to give in without a fight, according to Head Coach Charles Oswald.

&uot;We've played a lot better during the second half of the season, and we hope we've improved enough to be competitive with Ft. Dale,' Oswald said. &uot;We plan to go watch them in the playoffs, we just want to be competitive.&uot;

Kickoff is set for 7:30 Friday night.