They grew up playing AYS football together, lining up side-by-side on the gridiron. This Friday night at Griffin Field, they’ll be face to face.

Jay and Livermore Falls meet for 71st time in their history. Jay leads the all-time series, 36-33, with one tie.

The season finale for both teams is always the first game circled on their respective schedules. This year, though, both teams are 8-0, the first time since 1980 each has gone into the game undefeated.

Anticipation for the game has been building since mid-season, when it became evident that both teams had a good shot at running the table before they clashed.

“It definitely makes it much more exciting, much more of a challenge for us,” said Jay offensive and defensive lineman Ben Irish.

Despite all of the excitement on both sides of the border, the two teams have gone about their business as usual at practice this week.

“We’re looking at it as just another game and you can’t really get caught up in all the hype,” said Livermore Falls senior fullback Brad Bryant. “You’ve just got to have a good positive attitude going into Friday night.”

“We approach it the same way we have all year,” Jay senior QB Justin Wells said. “Granted, it’s a big rivalry game and we’re both undefeated and all the hype, but we’re just going out and play football basically.”

If either team has a little extra incentive going into Friday, it’s Livermore Falls, which lost last year’s game at Jay, 26-6.

The talk around both towns this week has been about the last two times both schools went into the game unbeaten, 1976 and 1980. The winner of the 1976 game, Jay, won a share of the state title. The winner of the 1980 game, Livermore, earned the right to play for the state title the next week.

The 2004 game doesn’t have the same do-or-die consequences. Both teams have already clinched playoff spots. The only thing on the line Friday, besides bragging rights, is the top seed and home field throughout the playoffs.

“What I think everyone is overlooking is that we’ll both be playing another week,” Wells said. “Everyone’s saying it’s Jay-Livermore. You’re 8-0,’ but whatever happens, both teams will be playing (in the playoffs) next week, and hopefully (for the Campbell Conference championship) the next week.”