SUGAR HILL, Ga. — You can call it the Maloof Bowl on Friday night in Gwinnett County.
That's because the two high school football coaches going head-to-head are father and son -- longtime Norcross High School head coach Keith Maloof and Lanier High School head coach Tyler Maloof.
From playing under his father and coaching alongside him, things will look quite different on Friday night as the two will now square off against each other for the very first time.
For Keith, he is no stranger to the big game and knowing what it takes to get the season started off right. Now in his 25th season at the helm of the Blue Devils, Keith has captured two state championships (2012, 2013) and has made 14 consecutive GHSA playoff appearances.
Keith Maloof is the longest-tenured coach in Gwinnett County. But this year, Maloof will be coaching a new quarterback under center in Dillon Mohammed, who does have a lot of experience but is joined by a lot of talent at skill positions around him.
"Oh, a lot different," Keith Maloof said when asked what it will be like coaching against his son. "You know, playing my brother, that was no biggie. It was stressful on the family but not like this. You know, mom's involved, daughter-in-laws are involved, families involved, grandchildren are involved now. So, a little different, but we're having fun with it, and high school football is a fun time, and it's really big in the state of Georgia, and we felt like we're struggling trying to find somebody to play, so we said might as well play each other."
One player to watch for on Norcross is four-star defensive lineman Junior Carter Luckie, who is the brother of Georgia football tight end Lawson Luckie.
Keith and his Norcross Blue Devils are coming off a 9-3 season in which they lost in the second round of the playoffs.
Tyler and his Lanier Longhorns are also coming off a 9-3 year in which they were also bounced in the second round.
