Battle for 148: CZRE and SVW Collide at 2-2 on Red Devils’ Homecoming

The Battle of 148 hasn't gone anywhere, but this year it feels like it means even more. Both the Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton/Elverado (CZRE) Bearcats and the Sesser Valier/Waltonville (SVW) Red Devils are sitting at 2-2, so this one is not just about bragging rights, it has real playoff stakes.

The Bearcats have a new spark with head coach Mike Rude, who is back at his alma mater after several successful coaching stops, including a run at Sesser Valier. Rude’s group has shown plenty of fight so far, pulling out a nail biter against Eldorado (35-30) and handling Hamilton County (32-13). Even in losses to Flora (35-22) and Johnston City (45-13), CZRE has flashed real promise as the program grows under its new leader.

On the other side, the SVW Red Devils are also 2-2 under Nick Wingo, who was once an assistant under Rude. The Devils have picked up solid wins over Fairfield (34-22) and Hamilton County (34-14), and even in tough losses to Flora (28-14) and Red Hill (14-6), they have proven they are a tough matchup every week.

That is what makes this year’s Battle of 148 so special. It is homecoming at Sesser-Valier, Rude is back on the opposite sideline, and both squads are hungry for a postseason push. The rivalry has always been fierce, but this one feels like it could be a classic.

So the question is, when the final whistle blows, who do you think takes the Battle of 148 this year?