Sept. 2 is the second Friday of the 2016 high school football season, and tonight a rivalry between two Dallas ISD schools will heat up the field at John Kincaide Stadium.
The matchup between David W. Carter and Justin F. Kimball high schools has been called “The Oak Cliff Super Bowl,” a phrase Dave Campell’s Texas Football traces to Carter safety Sherrod Wyatt in 1991. That was a year that both schools headed into the game undefeated and were fighting for the district championship.
That doesn’t mean nothing at all is on the line for tonight’s game.
“The rivalry is bigger than the game of football; it’s bragging rights, beating friends, always a source of proud within the Oak Cliff community that is all in one night,” said Kimball Coach Henry Cofer. “There is no need to do anything different in this game. Players, coaches and fans all will be ready for a great show.”
Carter Coach Patrick Williams has similar thoughts about the game. “The Carter/Kimball rivalry is very important to both teams and the community,” he said. “Each year the winner keeps the Oak Cliff Super Bowl trophy for a year. The players will have bragging rights for a lifetime. In addition, Oak Cliff gets an opportunity to be in the spotlight in a positive way as a community.”
Williams said that for his team, every practice, meeting, down, possession and game is important. “Every week is the Super Bowl for the Carter Cowboys,” he said. “It’s very hard to win football games and we will not take one for granted.”
Both teams’ coaches also have a special connection to their teams. Kimball’s Cofer graduated from Kimball in 1992; Carter’s Williams graduated from Carter in 1991.
This year, the schools are in different conferences, but strong interest in the game remains. The Kimball-Carter game garnered the most votes in KDFW-FOX 4’s “You Click the Game” contest.
“I am honored and blessed to be the head football coach at ‘The David W. Carter High School,’ ” Williams said. “I’ve been the head football coach at Carter for six years. My prayer is that God continues to bless and use me in a positive way.”
Cofer said of his job at Kimball, “It’s truly a blessing, as I would never thought 25 years ago I would be in this position while having the opportunity to serve my community.”
The opening kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 tonight at Kincaide Stadium, 9191 S. Polk St.
