Fans, players enjoy county rivalries
El Campo quarterback Waylon Malone (10) and the Ricebirds will take on Wharton County rival Wharton on Friday in El Campo.
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County RivalriesWharton County
Wharton at El Campo
East Bernard at Boling
Jackson County
Industrial at Ganado
Matagorda County
Van Vleck at Palacios
El Campo quarterback Waylon Malone has constantly been reminded of the Ricebirds' rivalry with Wharton this week.
"Most of those guys over there are my cousins," Malone said. "They call me at night and say, 'We're going to beat you,' and hang up."
Wharton hasn't beaten El Campo since 2001 and Malone will try to continue the trend when the teams meet at Ricebird Stadium on Friday night.
The El Campo-Wharton game is one of four county rivalry games being played on Week 3.
Along with El Campo and Wharton, Wharton County rivals East Bernard and Boling will square off in Boling.
Jackson County foes Industrial and Ganado will meet in Ganado. Palacios and Van Vleck will continue their Matagorda County rivalry in Palacios.
The teams are no longer district foes and in most cases play in different classifications, but their proximity feeds the rivalry.
"It's important because we've been playing for a long time," El Campo coach Bob Gillis said. "A lot of our people work in Wharton and a lot of there's work here. It's kind of a fun thing. We've been getting a lot of phone calls and stuff."
Industrial Doug Kuhlmann learned about the Cobras' rivalry with Ganado shortly after arriving in Vanderbilt. Monte Althaus coached at Ganado before becoming a junior high principal at Industrial.
"He told me it was a big game, especially when Industrial and Ganado had top 10 teams," Kuhlmann said. "It's just the closeness of the two teams. Being from the same county most of the people know each other real well and as a result, it's a big football game for both teams."
Ganado coach Mike Rabe rarely has trouble motivating his team for Industrial and it has been even easier this week. The Indians lost to Boling 27-21 last week and were knocked out of the Class 1A state poll.
"It's a big rivalry for our community and their community," Rabe said. "They know who each other are. It's just a big game. We like it. It's just a great environment when we play each other."
Ganado's Ross Rakowitz and Industrial's Travis Franz have experienced both sides of the rivalry. The Indians defeated Industrial 14-0 in 2007, and the Cobras won 42-14 last season.
"It's definitely been here a long time," Rakowitz said. "We don't hate each other, but once you get the helmet on and strap it, it's a whole another ballgame. You want to beat them and they want to beat you."
"My brother played in this game and it's always been a big rivalry," Franz said. "I have friends in Ganado and it was fun to say, 'We beat you all.' It just goes back and forth."
Malone has seen the El Campo-Wharton rivalry from both sides. His father, Bryan Johnson, played at Wharton.
But there's no question over the rooting interest at Malone's home.
"My dad and I talk about it a lot," Malone said. "He's mostly on our side now because I'm playing."
