By JONATHAN HULL
Sports Editor
They've played every year since 1998, but if the matchup between the Big Spring Steers and the Frenship Tigers is considered a rivalry, then it's been a one-sided affair.

The Steers have just one win over Frenship during that timeframe, coming 10 years ago in the 1999 season. Big Spring hopes to chance that trend with the two teams lock horns at 7:30 p.m. at Tiger Stadium in Wolfforth in the District 4-4A opener for both squads.

It's a game undefeated Big Spring (5-0) believes it can win after enjoying a bye last week.

"It wasn't too hard to get back into a routine. Once we got out and started practicing, it felt like we hadn't even missed a week," said Big Spring Head Coach Phillip Ritchey. "There wasn't really any rust shown. Everybody has been upbeat and sharp.

"Certainly, this has been the easiest game for our guys to get focused on," Ritchey added. "We know what's at stake Friday. It's going to be fun and we feel like we can beat them this year."

The backdrop for this year's matchup between Big Spring and Frenship isn't typical. In fact, the two squads are essentially reversing roles. While Frenship's dominance over its district, which has included Big Spring since 2000, is duly noted, it's the Steers with the target on their back this season. The bull's eye on Big Spring's chest is only magnified by its No. 9 ranking in the latest edition of the Associated Press' Top 10 Class 4A Football Poll.

"From Frenship's point of view, our ranking puts a big target on us," noted Ritchey. "They're certainly not accustomed to us being ranked ahead of them. They're not used to this being a big game with Big Spring."

Still, even with the ranking, Ritchey is preaching to the Steers that they're still the underdogs in this game.

"This is a big game on the road in a hostile environment. We're still not favored to win even with our ranking," he explained. "Frenship expects to beat us still and now they're playing with extra motivation based on our ranking."

Friday's game also serves as a part of Frenship's annual homecoming celebration, spurring on the Tigers' need for a winning performance even further, while also provoking the Steers.

"The homecoming factor is interesting. I think Coach (Brad) Davis knew we were going to be good this year and is just trying to give their kids a little extra motivation to play us," said Ritchey. "There are going to be a lot of ex-players and students in attendance and I think that's another reason he picked us. They could've picked some of the other teams they blew out at home during their non-district schedule. I think Davis wanted a good football team to showcase his squad against for the homecoming crowd.

"He's also saying he's confident they can win this game by making us their homecoming opponent," he continued. "It's an extra motivation for us, too. We're taking it personally that he scheduled us as the homecoming opponent."

The Steers expect to face a typical Frenship team that prefers to utilize a power run game between the tackles with a big offensive line serving as the offensive catalyst.

"After watching Frenship on film for two weeks, they are just as talented as Denison. They're bigger up front than Denison. They're offensive line is big and strong and their backs are tough. They're a very talented team and play with a lot of pride in their tradition."

The Tigers are led by running back Bobby Huey, who has 391 yards on 66 carries.

Quarterback Brandon Hanslik hasn't thrown an interception this season, completing 36-of-66 passes for 589 yards and eight touchdowns. However, Frenship's passing game develops out of the ground attack as the Tigers utilize play-action passes frequently.

"Frenship probably uses the play-action pass as well as anyone I've seen in all my time as a coach," said Ritchey. "That's something we'll have to guard against. They force defenses to cheat an eighth guy into the box to stop the run and they they send receivers deep as safeties begin to creep up more and more. It's tough to defend."

The Steers come into district play with the most balanced offense in the league, having passed and rushed for more than 1,100 yards. Tailback Monte Anderson has 1,080 yards on the ground, averaging better than 9 yards a carry.

Meanwhile, quarterback Tyler Tannehill has passed for 1,156 yards and 17 touchdowns, while throwing just two interceptions. Tannehill has spread the ball out evenly to a litany of receivers, including Thaddeus Straughter, Matt Ritchey, Martin Yanez, Pavel Plakhotny, and twin brothers Xavian and Tevian Parnell.

Even with a balanced offense putting up numbers never before seen at Big Spring, Coach Ritchey says its an intangible that is making the most difference for the Steers this season.

"One of our biggest advantages this year is the confidence we have going into the game. We believe we can beat (Frenship)," he said. "That hasn't been true for Big Spring in the past. We felt the same way last year, but we had the accident and it took some key players off the field. We know we can go play with these guys. If we don't make a bunch of mistakes, we can win this game."

The accident Ritchey mentions was a car wreck the night before the game with Frenship last year that forced four starters onto the sidelines, including Anderson. That was just one of several mishaps off and on the field last season that kept Big Spring from playing with a full squad for most of the year. Frenship defeated the Steers 39-21 in 2008, although Big Spring had nine starters sitting on the sidelines.

"Honestly, for our seniors, this is going to be the first year they've faced Frenship together since they've been on the varsity," noted Ritchey. "Last year, a bunch of those guys were out with injury. They weren't all together on the varsity as sophomores. This is a special senior class and I know they're all looking forward to facing Frenship one last time.

"We're healthy this year, too. The only player who had missed significant time had been our center Julian (Ramirez) and he was cleared to play this week," said Ritchey. "Matt (Ritchey) dislocated his middle finger against Sweetwater and it's been tender, but a finger isn't going to keep him out of this game. I don't know that any injury could keep him off the field Friday. That goes for all of our seniors. They're all looking forward to this game."

A victory over the Tigers is one that could carry the Steers through the remainder of the season, according to Ritchey.

"If we beat Frenship, we pick up a lot of momentum for the rest of the season. A win over them would just re-emphasize our feelings of how good this team is," said Ritchey. "This is going to be a very hostile environment for us to play in. It's Frenship's homecoming. They're expecting to have standing room only for the crowd in attendance. Friday hasn't come quick enough for us this week. We've been dwelling on this game for two weeks now. We're all ready to get on the field."