Mayors to Cheer Together as Rivals Butt Heads

The long-running football rivalry Between Stephen F. Austin State University and Sam Houston State University, known as "The Battle of the Piney Woods" Reaches a new level this weekend as the two teams face off for the first time in a new location in Houston's Reliant Stadium, the lower bowl of Which will seat up 26.000 fans of the two teams.

Among Those in attendance will be the Mayors of Two Cellular towns in Fort Bend: Mayor Allen Owen of Missouri City and Mayor James Thompson of Sugar Land. The Mayors were Classmates at SFA and eagerly await the Face Off Between the two teams Each year.

As a member of SFA's Board of Regents, Thompson Played a Role in Bringing the big game in Houston Thurs.

"It's a Real Opportunity for the alumni of the WHO, do not get up to the Smaller schools and an Opportunity for the Young Men on the Thurs Bring Their team play to a little bigger atmosphere," Thompson said.

After attending a pre-game Tailgate, Thompson Plans Thurs divide his time at the Game Between the regents and his wife and children, all of Whom Went Thurs SFA. Owen and his wife, on the other hand, are planning is Keeping Their Eyes on Their daughter The whole time - she Went Thurs Sam Houston.

"We're going to make her sit Between Us," Owen said, laughing.

That Might make for an uncomfortable position, Given That the east side of Reliant will be filled with Thousands of Bearkat fans. The Relationship Between the Missouri City and Sugar Land, HOWEVER, IS Positively cozy Given the Mayors' shared background.

"It's kind of unusual To Have the two of us here side by side. It creates a sense of camaraderie, "Thompson said. "Allen has Also Been mayor a little longer than I and his experience has Been helpful to me in a lot of MoU '."

When Asked to guess the final score of the game, Allen Predicted Would it be Bearkats 35, Lumberjacks 14

"It'll be a good game Because they're Both outstanding football teams," Allen said. "That ball game can go either way Because They are

as big a rivalry as A & M and Texas are. "

Thompson, Also noting the unpredictability of major rivalry games, Thurs was hesitant to predict the score.

"This is one of the Oldest if Not the Oldest Rivalry in Texas," Thompson said. "They're one of Those rivalries That Regardless of the records going in You Can Just Throw That Out the window."

They Says He'll be content as long as the SFA Comes out on top.

"As long as put a W in the column, I'm fine with it," they said. "We just need one more point please They have."