The place will be rocking when the clock strikes 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

As is customary whenever Hertford County High School meets Bertie High School in any sport, that game draws a crowd, whether it’s played in Ahoskie or Windsor.

The rivalry between these two schools pre-dates those who will be participating in this year’s annual pigskin clash. This year’s competitors on both teams weren’t even born when the two schools first met decades ago on the field of play.

Typically in any given year, it’s not those dressed for battle on the gridiron that cause any sort of problems. Rather, it’s the die hard fans of both schools that often allow their emotions spill over. When that occurs, trouble usually isn’t very far behind.

We encourage fans of both schools to attend the 2011 Hertford-Bertie football game on Friday night in Ahoskie. Proudly wear your team colors and shout words of support for your team. Stand proud in victory, and be gracious in defeat.

Please refrain from allowing the heat of battle to cloud your good judgment. What is not needed is for the fans from both sides to engage in anything other than friendly conversation with each other before, during and after the game. Don’t embarrass yourself or your team by reacting negatively to the game’s outcome. In other words, show class, poise and dignity.

While athletic contests of any variety are won or loss on a particular day and quickly become only a memory, good sportsmanship lasts forever.

– The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald