Students dress in their best orange. The smell of bacon fills the air. School spirits hits a high on both sides.

Must be Texas-Arkansas.

The area’s most storied rivalry will add another chapter to its history when the Tigers open their season against the Arkansas High Razorbacks tonight. The Tigers have not lost to the Razorbacks in over 10 years, but, as is usually the case with rivalries, anything can happen.

Arkansas is entering its third year under head coach Todd Ledford, a former Texas High coach, and will be trying to rebound after going 2-9 last season. The Razorbacks are returning quite a few starters, which should prove valuable when breaking down the Tiger team that won 13-7 a year ago.

But the Tigers have things of their own to try to forget. Last year they went 3-7; the only losing season in head coach Barry Norton’s career at Texas High. The Tigers did lose some talent, most notably defensive tackle Jonathan Hunt and wide receiver Ben Adams. But the Tigers have enough starting seniors returning to provide leadership and guidance (middle linebacker Anthony Rhone, defensive tackle Justin Lewis and running back Treveon Walker).

The two points of interest will be special teams and the passing game. Texas High lost both kickers last year and one of their newer kickers was injured during the offseason. If the Tigers have someone that can boot it to the goal line on kickoffs, they should be fine.

The passing game will be interesting to watch on both sides. The Razorbacks will be breaking in a new quarterback after senior Dylan Silvey transferred to Pleasant Grove. Though senior Dakota Hunter was named the starter early in the offseason for the Tigers, fans and players are unsure as to who will be taking the first snap. Hunter provided a spark for the Tigers during the second half of the season and has better mobility, but senior Clete Norton has been said to have made remarkable improvements during the break. Regardless, someone has to come out and throw the ball downfield. The running game should pick up where it left off, the passing game just has to open it up for them.

Every year it’s tossed around that this will be the end of the Tigers’ reign, but not yet. This team won’t be the one to end the tradition

My prediction: THS- 20 AHS- 13