This is an opinion piece.

Tonight’s Class 7A, Region 1 clash between Foley and Baker might not be the most important high school football game in the state.

But it could be the most emotional.

Twin brothers Eric and Deric Scott will meet for the first time as opposing 7A head coaches. Eric, the oldest by exactly one minute, is in his first year as the head coach at Baker. Deric is in his sixth year as head coach at Foley.

The Scott’s younger sister, Teresa Denson, made the drive from Houston to be at the game. Aunt Ann Dale will be making the drive from Deric and Eric’s hometown of Monroeville. And she won’t be coming alone.

“Everyone is talking about it,” she said. “The Monroeville crew is coming.”

Teresa said she expects more than 100 family and friends to be at Hornet Stadium at 7 p.m. to see Monroe County High football and baseball legends Deric and Eric coach against each other.

It won’t be the first time the brothers have been on opposite sidelines of a football game, but it will be the first time as Class 7A head coaches. It also likely will be the first time twin brothers have faced off as head coaches in Alabama high school – and likely national – history.

“I’m so proud to see it,” Teresa said. “It’s more than just coaching. They’ve made such a positive impact on their students and athletes over the years. It’s going to be beautiful Friday night. It will be an emotional night for the whole family. I can’t wait.”

The Scott brothers grew up as exceptional football and baseball players in Monroeville. Teresa was known as “the twins’ sister.”

“We had a good relationship growing up,” said Teresa, who is two years younger. “They always had the spotlight on them because they were great students and exceptional ballplayers.”

Aunt Ann said they were also exceptional people.

“They were always hard-working guys,” she said. “They were so pleasant and respectful. That’s what we are all so proud of. They never got the big head. They stayed calm and did what they needed to do. They played ball and played it hard. They saw it as their way out.”

Steve Allen was Deric and Eric’s head coach for their final year at Monroe County before they went on to play at Southern Miss. He is helping with the undefeated Patrician football team this year in Butler, so he won’t be able to make it tonight, but he said he will be there in spirit.

“With the exception of our own children, I don’t know if there have ever been two players my wife fell in love with more than those two guys,” said Allen, now a district manager with ALFA Insurance. “They are just genuinely good people, and they were really good high school football players. I know they’ve both had an unbelievable impact on the kids they coach. They know the deal. There is no shortcut for hard work. They are just really solid people.”

Deric got his first head coaching job at Vigor in 2015. He went 41-21 with the Wolves, including the 13-2 run to the state finals in 2018. He is 26-30 so far at Foley where he also spent time as an assistant coach.

Eric got his first shot at B.C. Rain in 2008. The Red Raiders struggled to a 10-20 record during his three years there, and he’s been waiting for his next shot since. He got that shot this offseason when Juan Johnson left to become coach at James Clemens.

The brothers have endured different seasons this year. Foley is just 2-4, 1-3 in the region. Baker is 4-2, 3-1 in the region and likely headed to another playoff berth in Class 7A.

“We understand as brothers that we have to compete against each other, and that’s fine,” Eric said this summer. “But I think for each of us it just shows that, through hard work and dedication, you can obtain whatever you set your mind to in life. That is what I’m trying to teach our young men at Baker daily.”

Since this isn’t the first year the twins have been on opposite sidelines, Teresa said she had developed a system for each game. She sits on one sideline for half, then switches to the other. However, tonight she said she believes there will be enough family and friends to have a crowd in both the home and visitor bleachers.

“I know they don’t care about the attention, but they are well deserving of it,” she said.

Aunt Ann said she still plans to switch sides at the half and comfort the coach of the losing team at the end.

“Usually, the one that loses, we encourage him and let him know it will be OK,” she said. “One of them always looks at me and says, ‘Aunt Annie, you know I don’t like to lose.’”

Allen said he hopes one team beats the other by one point.

“I think it’s the coolest thing in the world that they are playing each other,” he said. “But the winner won’t be happy. It’s going to be like playing your best friend. You don’t want to see the other guy lose. I’m so proud of them both. I could say it over and over again.”

Deric told me this summer that he knew even then it would be an emotional night. He also made sure to point out that it’s a culmination of a lot of hard work by both brothers and a lot of prayers and support from family and friends.

“I only wish my parents were alive to see it,” he said.

I have a feeling they will be watching, coach.

And they will be proud.

“Therefor, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put love, which binds all together in perfect unity.” – Colossians 3:12-14.