It’s a big rivalry, and this year there are some changes.

The Bearcats travel the four miles down Knox-Abbott Drive to Airport Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

The teams play only once this year, instead of twice, because Airport is now a 4A school, and BC is 3A,. A 5A classification was added for the state’s high schools and changed Airport’s and BC’s classification

I expect a close game,” said Brookalnd-Cayce Head Coach and Athletic Director Rusty Charpia. And he will get no argument from Airport.

“It’s always a tough game,” said Airport Assistant Coach Trey Wallace. “It’s a rivalry.”

And recent records back up the coaches’ assessments.

“In the last six, we’re three-and-three,” said Charpia.

He said he expects Airport – that won both games versus BC last year- to throw the ball, with QB Brett Burnett.

“I expect them to air it out,” said Charpia. “The Burnett kid throws the ball well and they have Kerryon Richardson and C.J. Wright. They are good skill players.”

Wallace described BC Quarterback Reed Charpia as a dual threat – running and passing- and as“very good.”

“We’ll have to slow down their quarterback,” Wallace said. He added that BC has good receivers, too.

Wallace also said getting the game at home is a benefit.

Charpia said the Bearcats got off to a bad start in the game at Airport in 2015, and his team cannot turn the ball over as much as it did last year.

While the game is at Airport, BC has the advantage of having a game already played. The Bearcats defeated Lake Marion 49-8 last Saturday. That experience helps, but Charpia said his focus is on protecting the ball.

“I think the team that has the least number of turnovers will win the game,” Charpia said.