FORT SMITH (KFSM)-The number three Northside Grizzlies are taking on the number one Fayetteville Bulldogs Friday (Sept. 26).
It has been a journey for Northside High School.
After a few disappointing seasons the team is back and ready to win.
Step by step the grizzlies loaded their buses in Fort Smith before the game.
"It's definitely a big game this is our first conference game against the number one team in the state of Arkansas," Northside coach Mike Falleur said.
Northside is a legacy that dates way back.
"It kind of a took a little bit of a dip here in the last few years," Falleur said.
Falleur said last season the team won just three games.
"Our kids have worked hard to try to make us relevant again," Falleur said.
Defensive end Daytrieon Dean is one of those kids who has done just that. He’s already signed with The University of Arkansas.
"I feel like last year was a stepping stone to this year," Dean said. “That's why it's no surprise that we are this good."
It has been 15 years since Northside took a state championship prior to that it was in 1987.
"You have years when you have a lot of talent and years when you don't have as good of talent,” former coach Joe Fred Young said.
Young led the team to the 1987 title.
He’s got a football and ring to show 27 years later.
"We played Southside in the finals in Little Rock and we were able to win that football game,” Young said. "The emotion that went through my head was finally."
"That's our goal we want for everybody when they get ready to play Northside to know they better strap their helmets up and get ready,” Falleur said. “It's going to be four quarters of good football."