Mauldin vs. Hillcrest: Countdown to Kickoff

Let the smack talk commence.

In the opening game of the 2012 high school football season, the Mauldin Mavericks will take on arch-rival Hillcrest tonight on the Rams' home field.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

For Hillcrest fans, there will be a kickoff tailgate party and pep rally on the practice field near the stadium between 5-7 p.m. Fans can meet the team and cheerleaders, and listen to music in preparation for the game.

Mauldin got the best of Hillcrest in two meetings last season, but Hillcrest fan Claude Sutter said, "I've got a good feeling about this one. I think we'll take them. I saw them in that jamboree last weekend and they didn't impress me much. They just couldn't move the ball at all. That was the only boring game of the night. But we looked really dang sharp."

 the Mavs struggled in a two-quarter exhibition against the Wren High Hurricanes, losing 24-7. Hillcrest, which played earlier in the night, rolled over the Berea Bulldogs by a score of 34-0.

"Oh, no. We ain't losing to Hillcrest. No sir, no way, no how," promised Mav's fan Brenda Manningham, with a laugh. "Wren's good. I don't know much about Berea, but I know they aren't any good. So I'm not impressed. We'll see who's smiling and talking trash Friday night."

Patch needs to stay neutral here (we just want a good, clean game), but we do love some good smack talk. Want to sound off about tonight's game? Then feel free to do your (PG-rated) trash talking in the comments section below.