Close friends go head-to-head tonight in Kell-Cass gridiron battle

The realignment of regions and re-classification of Georgia High School Association member schools that began with the 2016-17 school year has created a reunion of sorts for a couple of players in Friday night's Kell Longhorns at Cass High School football matchup.

As is the case for many high school athletes, a pair of life-long friends will find themselves on opposite sides of the line of scrimmage tonight at Doug Cochran Stadium.

Kell senior quarterback John Lampley and Cass senior defensive end Austin Mays have been friends through their church for more than fifteen years. Both starters for their respective teams attend the same Cartersville congregation at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Cass and Kell have actually been in the same GHSA region for the past two years, but were in opposite sub-regions of a 14-school region. As a result, the two schools have never met on the gridiron. So the two friends have not faced one another in a game. They will finally get their chance Friday night.

Mays and Lampley, who have grown up playing competitive sports in separate counties (Cobb and Bartow) both serve as youth leaders in their church as the Youth Superintendent and Secretary of Sunday School.

Mays has six tackles through four games for the Colonels, including three for loss. Lampley has accounted for well over 200 yards per game rushing and passing for Kell. "Their competition with one another has been limited to living rooms, back yards, and sleep overs," noted Lampley's father John. "It is cool that these guys are close friends and will finally face off during their senior year. We will be cheering for both team."

Kell (3-1, 2-0 in Region 7-AAAAA and ranked No. 4 in Class AAAAA) plays at Cass (3-1, 2-0, unranked) in a showdown to remain at the top spot in the region Friday night with kickoff at 7:30pm.

Kell is seeking its tenth consecutive trip to the state playoffs. Cass has not been in the state playoffs since 2006.

The game will be carried live on BartowSportsZone.com in cooperation with 100.3FM / AM1450 WBHF. Use the link at the top of this page to listen to the Johnny's NY Style Pizza Game of the Week through our Meridix.com page.