The Long County High School football team will be looking to accomplish something Friday that it hasn’t done to date: beat McIntosh County. 

The Buccaneers have won every game that they have played against the Blue Tide dating back to 2004, when Long County’s program was in its early years. For the Blue Tide players and fans, no sound has been quite as irritating as the sound of the Buccaneers’ cannon going off after they’ve scored.

Well, on Friday, all of those demons can be put to rest. And for the first time in the series, it appears that the Blue Tide come in as the favorite.

MCA is having the worst season in school history, posting a 0-7 overall record and a 0-4 mark in Region 2-AA so far. The Blue Tide also have yet to win a region game, but they do have wins over Metter (28-20) and New Hampstead (41-0). In scoring, McIntosh County averages a dismal 12 points a night and giving up 37 points, while Long County’s averages 16 points a game and allows 28. In the MaxPreps.com state rankings, the Blue Tide are rated No. 398 while the Buccaneers come in at No. 426.

But even though all of these statistics seem to give Long County the advantage, when looking at common opponents, McIntosh County may get the nod. Both teams have played and lost to Vidalia, Jeff Davis County and Groves. However, the Buccaneers have lost to them by a combined score of 89-26 (minus-63 points), while the Blue Tide has fallen, 102-20 (minus-82).

Friday’s game is also the last home game of the season for the Blue Tide. All seniors from the football team, cheerleading squad and band will be recognized.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.