The battle for the Sportsmans Trophy, also called the Silver Football, is Friday night at Al Simpler Stadium in Junction City.

Manhattan, 5-0, meets Junction City 4-1 in their 2014 matchup.

The trophy which dates its history back to the late 1940s, is presented annually to the winner of this annual ballgame.

Manhattan coach Joe Schartz said it’s different this year. “Being week six, the game before districts, there’s still quite a bit on the line.” In recent years the Junction City – Manhattan has always been played on week nine, the last week of the regular season. But due to a change in district assignments in which Junction City was moved into a district with three Wichita teams, the game was moved ahead three weeks.

Junction City coach Randall Zimmerman is well aware that this is a big game. “It’s a big game, a big game for the alumni, the community. We have to sell it to our kids a little bit because we have a lot of kids that don’t grow up in this community. But I think they understand the magnitude of this game.”

Junction City has won the last two meetings with Manhattan 34-33 in 2012 and 16-10 in 2013.

Manhattan’s Chris Martin is a very capable running back. But he does more. Schartz noted Martin is one guy who stands out on the video when other coaches look at it. “He does a lot for us. He plays offense, quarterback and running back. He plays corner and safety, and he’s also our punter so he does a lot of different things for us.

The Blue Jays have a balanced rushing attack with Downey Wood and Jovan Baldwin leading  the way, and featuring Tanner Lueker at quarterback.

In recent seasons many of the outcomes in the Junction City – Manhattan games have not been determined until late in the fourth quarter.

Kickoff Friday night is scheduled at 7:08 p.m.   It will be Tribute to the Troops night at Al Simpler Stadium.