The names and the years change, but the meaningful football games between Faulkton and Warner continue on.

Each year the two Lake Region Conference foes wage a gridiron battle that features major consequences, ranging from a potential LRC title to valuable power points for upcoming playoffs. This year is no exception.

Second-rated Class 9B unbeaten Faulkton plays at third-rated Class 9A unbeaten Warner on Friday night, and as one might expect, there is plenty at stake.

“It’s been a battle for years,” said Warner coach Derek Hoellein.

Last year’s game went down to the wire before the Monarchs scored on the final play of the game to edge Faulkton. They year before that Warner won in a shootout. It seems like each meeting produces a special outcome of its own.

“We expect nothing less than that type of football game,” said Faulkton coach Shayne Geditz of this weekend’s game. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Warner has won more than its share of recent games in the series and Geditz understands the pedigree of the Monarchs.

“They’re kind of the standard in the LRC,” Geditz said. “They’ve had such good football teams the last number of years, but we’re excited to play them. It’s kind of one that you circle on the calendar.”

There is little doubt that each program has been able to withstand losing players to graduation, while maintaining a high standard of excellence on the football field.

“It’s credit to the cultures that we’ve built in the two schools,” Hoellein said.

Last season Warner won the Class 9A state championship, while Faulkton was runner-up in Class 9B. Both are off to solid starts so far this year and would like to add another quality win on Friday with the benefits that go along with it.

“I think for us, power points-wise it’s a big game for us, just looking at our schedule,” Hoellein said. “It’s a big game, you try not to make it too big of a game. To the kids, you don’t want to get too hyped or get to a point where they lose concentration and make the moment be too big.”

For the Trojans, it will be a midseason gauge, according to Geditz.

“It’s a great measuring stick to see where we’re at,” Geditz said, “measure ourselves against one of the best teams in the state and definitely our area.”

While there is still plenty of football left to be played and other teams are still in the running for an LRC championship, there is no denying the significance of the contest.

“It’s a big game. We’re playing at a high level right now. It’s always a goal to take a step forward,” Hoellein said. “Obviously, you don’t want to be playing your best football right now, but we’re playing well and we’re going in the right direction.”

Both coaches agree that the contest will likely be on the low-scoring end of things with the real key to the game taking place on the line of scrimmage.

“I’m expecting more of slugfest, lower scoring game,” Hoellein said. “Both teams are built to battle in the trenches.”

Geditz figures the contest to be the usual Faulkton-Warner slugfest that fans from both schools have come to appreciate through the years.

“I think that we hope that it’s a low-scoring game,” Geditz said. “I think we’re both built on our offensive and defensive lines. … I think we’ve got guys that are physical up front and play hard. We both have some good backs. I think that it’s going to be a physical football game. It’s going to be a ground and pound game is my anticipation.”

And regardless of the outcome, many fans will be keeping an eye on one of the top-nine man games in the state this week.

“Listen, if you’re in the area, and you’re looking for a good game,” Hoellein said, “Warner is the place to be Friday night.”