WHITESBORO, Texas (KTEN) - The first "Battle of the 'Boro's" in five years was quite the occasion last season.

"We went over there last year in the same week," said Whitesboro head coach Cody Fagan." In front of a sellout crowd. There was nowhere to park. It was an awesome high school environment."

Whitesboro played in quite the environment out in Bells last week. And although the Bearcats fell to the Panthers 38-27, they know games like these serve an important purpose.

"Bells is going to be a team that plays on Thanksgving and so will Pottsboro," said Whitesboro senior Clay Hermes. "They're teams that you expect to win 10 to 11 games a year. And you go up against those guys in non-district, it really gets you prepared for what's coming next."

Pottsboro, meanwhile, comes into this game 2-0. However, both of the Cardinals' victories have come by just six points.

"We got to execute better offensively," said Pottsboro head coach Matt Poe. "We haven't executed very well the first two games, I think we're better than we played and that's what we're working on this week."

Just like the Cardinals, Whitesboro is focused on improvement.

"We put the ball on the ground a couple times last week," said Fagan." We had a lot of penalties. If we clean those things up, I think we'll be just fine. But you can't just go in hoping to do it. You have to practice it Monday through Friday.

Another focus for Whitesboro? Trying to slow down Pottsboro running back Major McBride. He's rushed for 450 yards and eight touchdowns in his first two games.

"He's very special," said Poe. "Anytime he touches the ball, he can go score. We try to get it to him as many ways as we can and give him that opportunity."

But Whitesboro has a weapon of its own in dual threat quarterback Clay Hermes.

"We put more on our quarterbacks here at Whitesboro than most people do," said Fagan. "I knew what we had in Clay. I knew he was going to put in the work and have a great senior year. He's started off with a bang and I anticipate nothing but a lot more success for him and our offense."

And as these two teams prepare to renew their rivalry, don't think Pottsboro has forgotten about Whitesboro's victory in this game a year ago.

"They beat us last year, so we're ready to go and prove ourselves again because it was a tough loss last year," said Pottsboro's Major McBride.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 on Friday.