You might as well call Friday "Rivalry Day" in North Carolina as some of the top high school football teams crash helmets across the state.

There's the sold out Independence vs. Butler matchup in Charlotte, a contest pitting the 4A's top two teams, and Jack Britt battling Terry Sanford a few miles up Interstate 95 in Fayetteville, a cross-county rivalry that began in Britt's inaugural game in 2000. But fans of high school football in Robeson County have their own marquee game Friday night, a Lumberton-Purnell Swett tilt that has state playoff seeding written all over it.

"This is the fun part of my job," Robeson County athletic director Ronnie Chavis said. "This football game puts the spotlight on Robeson County athletics. Both teams are in the playoffs and this one's for bragging rights. It's the first time in history that the teams are this equally matched."

This is the the game you dream about as a senior, a chance to shut up the opposition and let your game do the talking one last time. It's been named the "Backyard Brawl" for one reason — only 15 miles separate the two schools.

"It's a big deal for the community and the kids involved," Swett coach Mark Heil said. "It's Robeson County's hometown rivalry."

Safety Damien Troy says the short trek down N.C. 711 will feel especially fast for Lumberton's bus as his team's been anxiously awaiting the opening kickoff since August.

"We feel confident in our team and know what we have to do," Troy said. Also, this will be the first time since 1996 that the game is the final contest of the regular-season for both teams, an objective Chavis says took years in the making.

"When I took the athletic director job, I wanted to see this day," Chavis said. "I've been looking forward to this particular ball game for many years. The ramifications are huge. The best thing about this game is that it’s a clean rivalry. The players respect each other on both sides."

The Pirates (7-3, 3-1) will play in front of a hostile crowd at Swett's Big 'Mo' Strickland Stadium in Pembroke, a venue the Pirates haven't won at since 1997.

"We're just as good on the road as we are at home," Lumberton coach Mike Brill said. "Our guys will be ready for anything."

While both teams are fighting for one last win to add to the resume, the home game for the Rams may soften the sting of the loss at Pinecrest.

A win over the Pirates would give the Rams a probable home game in the first round of the 4A or 4AA state playoff bracket. Heil warned his team after Monday's practice that Friday could be the last time seniors play in front of the home crowd if Swett falls.

"We still don't know exactly where we'll be in the playoffs," Heil said earlier this week. "The enrollment numbers are out for each school but it's hard to determine whether or not we'll be in the big or small 4A."

The Rams have an excellent shot at a No. 4 or No. 5 seed with a win over Lumberton and could make a state title run in the 4A bracket. A victory for the Pirates secures a second place finish in the Southeastern Conference and the first back-to-back wins over the Rams in over 20 years. Lumberton is most likely looking at a first round home game in the 4AA East.

Check out tomorrow's print edition for key players, X's and O's and game prediction.

Contact Brad Crawford, staff writer, at bradcrawford87@yahoo.com or 272-6119