Beyond the Scoreboard: The A-Game Rivalry

The A-Game is more than a football game. It is Amory versus Aberdeen. Pride, tradition, and identity all wrapped into one Friday night. This rivalry runs deep. It defines Monroe County. Families, friends, and neighbors all have a stake. Students sit next to rivals in classrooms. Adults work side by side. When the game comes around, the whole town feels it.

It all began in 1935. Amory won the first recorded game 21-0. From that moment, the stage was set. Each year mattered. Each game mattered. The towns are just 16 miles apart. Similar in size. Similar blue-collar roots. That similarity has fueled decades of fierce competition. Winning this game could make a season. Losing it could haunt a year.

The rivalry took on new life in 1989. The Monroe Publishing Company introduced the A-Team trophy. A symbol. A prize. Amory’s coach Bobby Hall called it a game-changer. Aberdeen’s Lynn Moore agreed. The first trophy game ended with Amory dominating 30-0. That loss lit a fire under Aberdeen. The trophy gave the matchup a special weight.

The history of the rivalry is a story of streaks. Long winning streaks. Long losing streaks. Aberdeen had six straight wins from 1973 to 1979. More recently, Aberdeen’s seven-game run in 2015 set a new program record. Amory had its moments too. They broke a nine-game losing streak in 2018 with a 34-26 victory. Across 92 games, Amory leads 53-39. Every win is treasured. Every loss fuels determination.

Coaches have defined this rivalry as much as players. Bobby Hall built Amory into a powerhouse. He won three Class 3A state titles in 1994, 1995, and 1998. He pushed players to the limit. He demanded full-speed, whistle-to-whistle effort. His long-time assistant, Pat Byrd, carried on the Amory way. Aberdeen’s coaches fought back. Lynn Moore’s early trophy wins showed the Bears’ competitive fire. The Ashley family feud brought personal drama. Ben Ashley for Amory faced his brother Burt Ashley coaching Aberdeen. Their mother watched nervously as the family battled on opposite sidelines. The rivalry is as personal as it is competitive.

Players have left their mark too. Percy Bell scored three touchdowns for Aberdeen in the 1960s. Fernando Davis chased the A-Team trophy in the early 1990s. More recently, in 2018, Amory’s Tyreke Gates rushed for 218 yards. Both quarterbacks wore No. 5 and combined for six touchdowns. The game has produced professional athletes. Mitch Moreland, Rufus French, Reggie Kelly, Channing Ward, Andre Townsend. Local legends and national stars. Each left a footprint in the rivalry.

The A-Game is more than sport. It is community. It is identity. It unites towns for a few hours each season. It provides a stage for pride, for bragging rights, for shared history. For some, it heals. For others, it inspires. Each season adds to the story. Each Friday night writes a new chapter.