How about the fact that this is a competition in the Mountain 7 District between a few programs that share some animosity with each other?

Plus, there’s the whole thing surrounding the huge piece of hardware that the winner gets.

This season marks the 30th anniversary of the challenge cup awarded by the South-West Insurance Agency to the winning team in the showdown between the guys from Ben Hur and the crew from Big Stone Gap, and it has a unique history.

From 1994 to 2010, it was known as the “Battle of the Boot” and went to the winner of the encounter between the Powell Valley Vikings and the Lee High Generals.

It was renamed “Brawl for the Bucket” in 2011 after Union was formed from the merger of Powell Valley and Appalachia, and the Bears have beaten Lee every year since to secure the trophy, which was created in the shape of an authentic coal miner’s lunch box from days gone by.

Legendary Powell Valley coach Phil Robbins — who the field at Bullitt Park will be named in honor of later this season — has always been an innovator and was one of the series’ masterminds, receiving a trophy after approaching management at South-West Insurance. The company had offices in Big Stone Gap and Jonesville, so it only made sense.

The original trophy was a bronze old-school Rawling football shoe.

“Battle of the Boot had a nice ring to it,” said Mike Allen, a longtime employee of the South-West Insurance agency.

The discarded souvenir is currently located in the agency’s office in Big Stone Gap.

Brian Ricketts ran for two touchdowns as Lee won the first Boot Battle at Five-Star Stadium 36-22.

Ryan Witt currently works for South-West Insurance Agency and played in the first two Battle of the Boot games for Powell Valley

“For me as a player, it was obviously a disappointment (to lose in 1994), but Powell Valley was able to win in 1995 at Bullitt Park,” Witt said. “I remember the atmosphere in 1995 was electric and Lee High pinned us at our own goal line early. We were able to run 99 yards and get the first score and Lee immediately responded by returning the kickoff and tying the game at 7-7. From there, it was back and forth and we were able to come away with a 48-33 win.”

Joey Carroll is entering his fourth season as head football coach at Lee High and graduated from the school in 2001. He also played in the Battle of the Boot.

“I remember the pride of both schools and communities,” Carroll said. “It was very special to be a part of that.”

The Brawl for the Bucket has lost some of its shine recently due to Union’s dominance, but don’t tell that to the current participants.

“When two schools are close to each other, there is always animosity between them,” Carroll said. “Union and Lee High are no exception. The large number of transfer players from Lee County who end up playing for Union has only fueled the fire.”

A win for Lee would be a bitter disappointment, to say the least. In addition to the 13 losses on the bucket list, the Generals have also lost twice to Union in the playoffs.

That’s a 0-15 record, but the players will still be highly motivated on Friday.

“I think trophy games are great,” Carroll said. “They always add excitement. … We love our kids. We will relentlessly pursue success with our kids. Our kids are the kids who want to be generals at Lee High.”

Union coach Travis Turner declined to comment or get involved in a war of words when asked to respond to the Lee transfer rumors to his team. However, his team did issue a statement during the preseason as the Bears will once again be one of the VHSL’s top teams in Class 2.

“We had a very good practice game against Elizabethton, who are good as always,” Turner said. “Then we had a charity game against Eastside, a rival from (Wise) County, and there was a pretty good atmosphere on Friday night (in a 48-7 win). Great crowd.”

A potentially successful season, which could extend into December, officially begins for Union on Friday at 7 p.m., just as tradition dictates.

“For South-West Insurance, it was a tangible way to witness the start of a new academic and athletic year for Lee High School and Union High School,” Witt said. “We hope the trophy adds to the excitement of the game and that it represents an appreciation for all the communities and people involved. High school football brings communities together in Southwest Virginia and we want to continue to be a part of that tradition.”

1994 – Lee High 36, Powell Valley 22

1995 – Powell Valley 48, Lee High 33

1996 – Lee High 14, Powell Valley 0

1997 – Powell Valley 48, Lee High 8

1998 – Powell Valley 21, Lee High 18

1999 – Powell Valley 35, Lee High 6

2000 – Powell Valley 32, Lee High 12

2001 – Powell Valley 33, Lee High 14

2002 – Lee High 19, Powell Valley 7

2003 – Powell Valley 54, Lee High 7

2004 – Powell Valley 75, Lee High 22

2005 – Powell Valley 48, Lee High 6

2006 – Powell Valley 40, Lee High 6

2007 – Powell Valley 21, Lee High 6

2008 – Powell Valley 6, Lee High 0

2009 – Powell Valley 41, Lee High 7

2010 – Powell Valley 28, Lee High 8

Final count: Powell Valley 14, Lee High 3

2011 – Union 29, Lee High 24

2012 – Union 38, Lee High 20

2013 – Union 27, Lee High 23

2014 – Union 33, Lee High 31

2015 – Union 35, Lee High 2

2016 – Union 50, Lee High 14

2017 – Union 24, Lee High 6

2018 – Union 42, Lee High 7

2019 – Union 41, Lee High 7

Spring 2021 – Union 28, Lee High 0

Fall 2021 – Union 56, Lee High 8

2022 – Union 48, Lee High 7

2023 – Union 34, Lee High 0

Current status: Union 13, Lee High 0