MacArthur quarterback Racer Felter dives through a group of Eisenhower defenders during the 2017 Gore War at Cameron Stadium. Felter is back this season as a junior and figures to play a pivotal role for the Highlanders in the tough District 5A-1.
The city school football teams' schedules were announced recently, and there are plenty of games for fans of all three squads to get excited about.
For the second-straight year, Lawton High is starting its season on a Thursday night, hosting Altus on Aug. 30.
Before last season's Thursday opener, a 33-32 loss to Class 5A champion Carl Albert, LHS hadn't played a Thursday night season-opening game since 1990, which resulted in a 36-22 loss to the Bulldogs. Twenty-eight years later, the Wolverines have a chance to avenge that loss.
It will be the teams' first meeting since 2013, which LHS won, 52-0. It will also be the Wolverines' first game without Randy Breeze as head coach since 2005.
The next day, Aug. 31, MacArthur and Eisenhower meet for the annual 'Gore War'. The Highlanders have owned the series as of late, winning the last seven matchups.
The past four years have been demolitions for Mac, averaging 56.5 points per game while holding the Eagles to 28 points on average.
Week 2 brings about the second round of the battle for the city championship, as LHS and the Highlanders meet at Cameron Stadium. The Wolverines ended Mac's three-year stranglehold on the title last season, cruising to a 50-20 win.
Meanwhile, Ike will be the first of the city schools to play away from home, as the Eagles make a trip up the turnpike to face Choctaw.
According to IWasAtTheGame.com, Ike leads the series 10-2, but the Yellowjackets claimed the most recent meetings, defeating the Eagles in 2014 (41-28) and 2015 (59-27).
Both games take place on Friday, Sept. 7.
Sept. 14 marks the final installment of the war for Lawton when LHS takes on Ike. The Wolverines hold a rather one-sided advantage in the series, having won 13 of the last 19 meetings -- including nine straight.
Mac travels to the Tornado Bowl to take on old rival Clinton. The Red Tornadoes are on the Highlanders' schedule for the first time since 2015. Mac has won every meeting between the teams, dating back to 1972.
The city schools begin district play on Sept. 21, with LHS traveling to face Midwest City in game that will likely decide the 6AII-I winner. The teams have split the past eight meetings, but the Bombers have won two-straight over LHS.
The past five meetings have each been decided by seven points or less.
Mac hits the road as well for a big matchup with Ardmore. The Tigers won 5A-1 last season, but the Highlanders handed them a 36-7 loss in the final week of the regular season.
No teams other than Mac and Ardmore have won the district since 2014.
The Eagles welcomes Woodward for 5A-2 action in the week's only home game. Ike won last year's contest, 49-28, in a game that endured a multi-hour lightning delay.
The Highlanders take on the burden of a Thursday game on Sept. 27 when they play lowly Southeast. Since the Spartans re-entered the district in 2016, Mac has outscored them 75-13.
On Friday, LHS and Ike will be against bottom dwellers in Deer Creek (home) and Northwest Classen (away), respectively.
To start October, the Wolverines and the Eagles will be on the road. LHS takes on Putnam City West in Warr Acres, while Ike travels to Piedmont on Oct. 5.
Mac will be at home against Western Heights in a game that will likely result in a win for the Highlanders. The Jets are 18-62 since the turn of the decade.
Ike has a shorter preparation period the next week, as it hosts back-to-back state runner-up Bishop McGuinness on Thursday, Oct. 11. The Fighting Irish have outscored the Eagles 126-47 in the past two years, including a 70-32 onslaught in last season's meeting.
The Wolverines host Stillwater for the second-straight year on Oct. 12. The Pioneers are slated to finish third in 6AII-I, but LHS knows better than to sleep on the foe from the northeast. Last season, Stillwater nearly overcame a 28-point second-half deficit before the Wolverines eventually pulled away for a 43-29 victory.
LHS has won four-straight over the Pioneers.
Meanwhile, Mac heads west for a date with Altus. The Bulldogs ended their 15-game losing streak to the Highlanders last season, 26-15, on the way to a second-place district finish.
Mac then has a quick turnaround, facing district newcomer Noble on Thursday, Oct. 18. The Bears shocked Class 5A last season, scoring a pair of upsets in the playoffs before being knocked off by Bishop McGuinness in the semifinals. It will be the teams' first meeting since 2006, when the Highlanders claimed a 48-14 win.
LHS takes on Choctaw on the road on Oct. 19, while Ike makes the 5-hour trek to Guymon for the second-straight year.
The Wolverines close out their regular season home schedule in Week 9, as LHS takes on Del City, which moved back up to 6A after a six-year stint in 5A, on Thursday, Oct. 25. The Wolverines won the last meeting, 56-20, in 2011.
Mac will have its Senior Night festivities the next night against Duncan. Ike, in the meantime, must deal with the defending champion Carl Albert on the road. The Titans dispatched of the Eagles last season, 49-0, before claiming their second-straight state title seven weeks later.
The last game game of the regular season for Ike will be Nov. 2 against Guthrie. The Eagles defeated the Bluejays last season, 41-21, to clinch their first playoff berth since 2011.
LHS will be in the Oklahoma City area for what could be an exciting game against Putnam City. The Wolverines were the first team to defeat the Pirates last season, 27-21, ending PCO's four-game winning streak.
Mac closes out its regular season against El Reno on the road. The Highlanders racked up a team record 826 yards of offense against the Indians in 2017 on the way to a 64-35 win. Quarterback Racer Felter led the way, throwing for 395 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
All games are scheduled for 7 p.m.