Miscellaneous
They started playing in 1927 and it’s still considered one of the most tradition-rich games in AHSAA history when the Valley Rams and Lanett Panthers clash in the 88th meeting Friday at Rams Stadium.For Lanett coach Clifford Story and Valley coach Buster Daniel, it’s a great way to jump-start the season against your arch-rival but win or lose, the game is for bragging rights but not an all-important region contest.Valley leads the 87-game series by a 54-31-2 count and won last year’s matchup at Lanett, a 28-22 thriller at Morgan-Washburn Stadium to end the Panthers state-best 15-game winning streak. The Panthers rolled to the AHSAA 2A state title in 2017, posting a perfect 15-0 record in what was the most dominating season in Lanett history. In 2017, Lanett opened what would be a championship season with an emphatic 28-7 win over the Rams at Rams Stadium.Story and Daniel are 1-1 in two meetings. Story is 2-6 overall in eight games vs. Valley. Valley is a 5A school and Lanett has dropped to the 1A classification. Regardless, it’s a great rivalry and both teams want to earn the victory and bragging rights. It means a lot, always has and it will remain that way.“The Lanett and Valley rivalry goes back over many decades,” Story said. “It has always been played against family members and friends. These kids shop together, attend functions together and share this community together. For one night, they will battle each other for bragging rights. I have been a part of it since I came to Lanett as head coach (2009). We’ve had a few years that we did not play but since we started back, it gives us all something to look to. I pray both teams are free from injury and at the end of the night, we can shake hands and finish the season strong,” noted Story. “The Valley-Lanett rivalry is one of the biggest and longest-running series in the state of Alabama,” Daniel said. “In my opinion, it’s also one of the best. It doesn’t matter what classification the teams were in or what their record was. It was and always be a great game. It means a great deal to me because most of my family either played, coached or cheered in the game throughout time. This is the one game that people will go watch, even if they never go to any other games. It means a great deal to both schools and both communities,” added Daniel.Valley holds the longest winning streak in the series of 10 games, 1939-47. Note: in 1943, the two schools played two games —both Ram wins. Valley won 57-7 on Sept. 18 and completed the season series sweep with a 20-7 win on Nov. 12.Lanett’s longest win streak is five games, 1975-79.In 1970, Lanett defeated Valley 28-0 but the Rams won the state championship. Until Lanett posted a 15-0 mark and state championship season in 2017, only Valley’s ’70 title and Lanett in ’17 were the lone on-the-field won (AHSAA state playoffs) championships. Both schools claim other state titles in years before the AHSAA playoffs opened in 1966.