Thirty years ago, the Mount Airy-East Surry matchup was a game for the ages.

Two rivals, playing until the final whistle, in a grudge match for the conference championship.

But if 1979’s one-point nailbiter finish is replicated tonight in Pilot Mountain, area football fans will be in for a treat.

It was the Cardinals who pulled out the win over the Granite Bears in ‘79, escaping with the 7-6 victory.

A controversial finish, Mount Airy had a chance to win the game with a field goal on the final play only to be told the clock had expired, even though the scoreboard clock still had time remaining.

Turn to 2009, and tonight’s matchup of the undefeated Bears and Cardinals.

While no one taking the field for either team was even alive in ‘79, some things are the same from that November night.

Friday’s winner will be Northwest 1A/2A Conference champion and have bragging rights until next season over their school’s most bitter rival.

Another similarity from thirty-years ago is East Surry head coach David Diamont, who was in his first stint as the Cardinals head coach.

Previously an assistant at Mount Airy, Diamont was matched up against his mentor and former boss, legendary Bears head coach Jerry Hollingsworth.

The game was initially rained out of its Friday time slot and played on a Saturday.

East led 7-0 at the half with both teams fighting hard in the second half to gain control.

The Bears finally got on the board late in the fourth quarter when star running back Bobby Brinkley plunged in from three yards out.

Hollingsworth then elected to go for two and the lead, something he said he did not regret.

“We always try to go for the win,” he said. “We had a chance to take the lead and we went for it.”

Ask Diamont about “going for two” and he will say much the same thing, particularly since one of the Diamont family vehicles has a license plate which reads, “GoFor2.”

A drive through Pilot Mountain before the game tonight will show anyone uninitiated to this rivalry just how big it has become.

Signs supporting East Surry have been placed throughout the town by residents, giving both the Cards, and the Bears, some motivation for tonight’s game.

Pilot Mountain is sure to be awash in a sea of blue and red with Pilot Mountain Mayor Earl Sheppard saying he wouldn’t be surprised if nearly 6,000 fans took in the contest.

In preparation for such a crowd Sheppard said the town has taken a few extra measures to ensure a smooth meeting, including placing extra policemen on duty.

“I saw chief (Darrell) Bottoms this morning and he has got on extra men, but it’s going to be a great crowd and a great game,” Sheppard said. “We don’t anticipate any problems. Somebody was talking about 6,000 people so it will be parking up and down. I think its just going to be super.”

Sheppard said he and Mount Airy Mayor Jack Loftis have even made a “gentleman’s wager” on the outcome of the game.

“I called Mayor Loftis this morning and if Mount Airy wins I have to take him to ‘The Squeeze Box’ and if East Surry wins he has to take me to Snappy Lunch,” Sheppard said. “We just wanted to add a little humor to it. It’s an important game, but it’s still just a game.”

Sheppard balked when asked what he would order from Snappy Lunch if the Cardinals win.

“I’ll get a pork chop sandwich, what are you talking about?” he said with a chuckle. “Do they serve something else?”

The East Surry Booster Club will hold a tailgate before the game, with both school’s fans invited to attend.

In addition to the regular festivities, the East Surry Lady Cardinals 2008 softball team will receive their state championship rings at half time of the game.