FORSYTH, Ga. — Friday night lights at Dan Pitts Stadium looked a little different in Week 3.
"Everybody breathes and lives and is really excited Friday night lights down there," according to New Westminster co-head coach Darnell Sikorski.
It's a pretty common scene at Central Georgia High Schools, but not for the folks up in Canada.
"They've probably never experienced Middle to South Georgia or the southern part of the United States," Mary Persons head coach Brian Nelson said. "I mean that's a long way from Vancouver, so I think the whole experience is going to be kind of cool."
The Mary Persons Bulldogs hosted the New Westminster Hyacks from British Columbia, Canada. It's the first time they're making the nearly 3,000-mile journey to Georgia, but it's not their first time crossing the border to play.
"We try to do that every three to four years," Sikorski said. "We've gone to California in 2011. We've gone back to California again in 2017. We've gone to Texas in 2014."
Nelson said they were just trying to find competition.
"You're looking for non-region games and it basically started by an email," Nelson said.
Sikorski said his team wanted to play in a football mecca.
"California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, so of those four states who is on top you're not really sure but it's one of those generally," Sikorski said. " ... We said, 'Let's try something different this year if it's possible.'"
Something different lands New Westminster in Forsyth to get a taste of southern football culture, and a taste of that special combo of heat and humidity.
"Coming down here and handling all this stuff that probably is going to be the most difficult part for them you know but they play football just like we do so," Nelson said.
At the end of the day, Nelson said it's about giving their players memories they'll want to look back on.
"Everybody wants you to win but it's about giving the kids an experience throughout their high school careers," Nelson said.
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