OZARK — New Nixa head coach John Perry came from one of the great rivalry matchups in the entire state of Mississippi.
The former Pearl High School state championship-winning coach always had a fiery matchup against Brandon High.
“Eat Dirt Pearl, Eat Dirt” or “Eat Dirt Brandon, Eat Dirt,” would echo throughout the stadium on Friday nights.
But on Friday night, he was introduced to one of southwest Missouri's great rivalries — the Backyard Brawl.
"I know what a big rivalry is and this is a big rivalry," Perry said. "I don't go eat in Ozark for a reason and I pay my taxes and eat in Nixa.