What was once a one-high-school town, which had all of Gretna decked in green and golden-yellow, has now become a brewing rivalry where half of the community now sports black with golden-yellow instead of green.
Tonight, for the first time, the community will be split while sitting in the stands of Gretna Stadium as the Griffins (4-4) and the Dragons (5-3) will face off in a mythical-sized battle that has been coined as “The Battle of 370.” The 7 p.m. matchup will be both schools’ regular-season finale and will determine who will win Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) Class B-2 District Championship.
“It’s different because I know all I know all these kids,” linebacker, senior Luke Johnson said. “They’re a young team, so I don’t know a lot of their players, but should still be fun.”
Even though Gretna East is already predicted to make their first-ever playoff run, tonight’s game could be the icing on top to boost their seed. However, the team isn’t focusing on tonight as a marquee matchup.
“This is the same as any other game,” running back, senior Mason Gunn said. “[We] go through practice the same way– prepare the same.”
Not only will tonight’s game showcase the divide of the district, but it will also pin athletes who grew up together and were once classmates and teammates against each other as opponents. And even though both teams share the same golden-yellow school color as a symbol of unity within the Gretna Public Schools district, “The Battle of 370” might just become the beginning of an inter-district rivalry.
“I don’t think it’s a rivalry yet, in my opinion,” Johnson said. “We haven’t played each other, but it’s definitely something close.”
Even the coaches have felt the impact of the split. Wide Receiver Coach Dana Janssen is a Gretna alumnus and still has ties to current-day Gretna, including a strong connection to one of their players, so tonight’s game is sure to bring mixed feelings. However, Janssen says there is a silver lining to his current situation.
“The best part about it is he [senior Kalvin Janssen] plays on the offense, and I coach mainly offense,” coach Janssen said.
With all of this in mind and the pressure that comes with it, the team’s eyes have been set on this game; however, the message from their coaches and team leaders has stayed consistent.
“Clear your minds, focus, do your job, and treat this like any other game,” Janssen said. “Don’t bring emotions into it.”
Currently, Gretna is ranked as the eighth-best team in the NSAA Class B Wild Card race whereas Gretna East is ranked 13th. A win will boost either team but at the cost of docking the other down.
“Right now we’re just focused on Gretna because it’s just one game at a time,” senior, defensive edge Frank Thomas said. “Obviously, getting the win would put us towards the middle, so we might have a chance to host a home game which would be very beneficial for us.”
For the fans, while they might be wearing different colors, this is a chance to pack the stadium and show off the Gretna community as a whole.
Senior Grant Rice moved from Gretna to Gretna East in the middle of last school year and experienced divided sections from both sides of the picture from a student perspective.
“They’re very similar,” Rice said. “Our [GEHS] administrators keep us in check– keep us very respectful, but I think we will bring a bigger student section and be on them all night.”
While the outcome of tonight’s game is anyone’s guess, one thing is certain: when the play clock starts and the first snap is taken, the saying “One Town, One Team, One Last Time” will officially be retired as tonight it will be “One Town, Two Teams, for the First Time.”
