Wheatley, Yates set to restore historical rivalry

HOUSTON – It's a rivalry that dates back for decades, and now, as part of Super Bowl week, the Yates and Wheatley High School football teams are back together.

The rivalry is nearly a century old.

Two legendary football teams are going to come together this weekend.

We're not talking about the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, we're talking about the Wheatley Wildcats and the Yates Lions.

It's a rivalry that stretches back to the 1920s between the two historically black high schools in the Third and Fifth Wards, respectively.

"When these guys were playing back in the day, it was about 30,000 people coming out to see these guys," Nike Communications Manager Heter Myers said.

At one point, the Turkey Day Classic drew the largest high school football crowds in America.

Now, with the help of Nike and in celebration of the Super Bowl returning to Houston, the two teams will return to the gridiron on Thanksgiving 2017.

"Through competition, through skills drills, pro-athletes are coming in to talk to these guys, so it's really just an all-out experience," Myers said.

"To come be a part of us is just truly a blessing, and an honor that they would think of us to do something like this and help celebrate and bring this back to our communities," Yates football head coach Michael Watkins said.

"It brings out the best in each school. The school spirit is just up, and we're happy to be a part of that," Wheatley football head coach Cornelius McFarland said.

The stage is set, the history is real, but who will claim victory?

"Hopefully it's a good, competitive game, but we look forward to wining," Watkins said.

"We definitely plan to take it back to Wheatley and the Fifth Ward community," McFarland said.