The unofficial football championship of Freestone county is renewed this week when the Fairfield high school Eagles head to Teague to face the Lions.

Fairfield and Teague have not faced each other in a game since 2003 when the Lions dropped to Class AA and the Eagles stayed in the Class AAA ranks.

The game this Friday at 7:30 p.m. renews a crosscounty rivalry that dates back to 1938, the second year of FHS football.

“It doesn’t matter what the records are, it’s the battle of Freestone county,” FHS head coach Darrell Piske declares.

The Lions come into the contest with wins over Mildred and Centerville while the Eagles have posted victories over Ferris and Hillsboro.

Teague beat Centerville 42-21 last week and the Eagles defeated Hillsboro 21-0.

Both teams struggled in 2009, posting 1-9 records.

“They are much improved,” Piske says.

The Lions operate out of a spread offense directed by left-handed quarterback Jake McClain, son of head coach John Finney.

McClain earned All-State honorable mention last season at Maud where he ran and passed for 2,000 yards and 27 touchdowns.

In the backfield is junior Larry Busby, the 100- meter dash state champion in Class A.

“He (Busby) is faster than anybody we’ve got,” Piske notes.

Receivers Jurante Carter and Casey Samuels are both only a step behind Busby, posting 4.6-second times in the 40-yard dash compared with Busby’s 4.5.

Kicker Andres Diaz also is a threat—-he booted a 22-yard field goal in the season opener.

The Fairfield coach predicts the Eagles will have a test in covering pass routes, and the speedster in the backfield.

Defensively, the Eagles coaching staff is still tring to figure out what the Lions run because it is changing weekly to match up to opponents.

“I think they will pack the box and line up with the rest,” Piske says. “They fly to the ball and play man coverage a lot.”

The Lions returned five offensive and seven defensive players to the fold this season.

Preseason picks put Teague in third place in District 11-AA, Division I.

Piske points out that last week’s win by the Eagles over Hillsboro was not pretty—-all three touchdowns came in the second quarter—-and that the coaching staff wants go get the team back to its season opening level when it defeated Ferris 35-18, then turn it up a notch.

“Our motto, though, is ‘just win, baby,’” the coach says.

Fairfield came out of the Hillsboro game injury free. Wide receiver Darian Scott missed the game with a sprained ankle and All- District lineman Dominique Owens sat out the second half with a calf bruise, but both will suit up against Teague.

Upcoming pre-district opponent Rusk lost to Crockett 54-6 last week and Kemp beat Edgewood 42-26.

In District 11-AAA, Groesbeck beat Robinson 43-40, Mexia beat Gatesville 28-25, Palestine lost to Pittsburg 51-16, Palestine Westwood lost to Frankston 35-26 and Madisonville lost to Coldspring 26-0.