In this case, familiarity didn't breed contempt. Instead, it generated a classic showdown for the small-school state Football championship game Saturday.

"We play each other so much that the kids are very familiar with each other. And coach (Brian) Christensen is a good friend of mine," said Levi Kramer, a lifelong resident of Wray who is the team's head coach.

The Eagles will travel to Akron, winners of 38 straight games and the past two state titles, for the second meeting of the North Central League opponents this season. The Rams beat Wray 26-0 in the first matchup and have gone 10-5 against the Eagles since 1980.

Christensen and Kramer understand as well as anyone how deep the Football ROOTs run in these two towns.

Kramer played quarterback for the Eagles' 1993 Class 3A state championship team, and Christensen helped Akron beat Wray for the 1985 title.

"There's a lot of history here," Kramer said.

There also is a great deal of similarity between the teams. While both sides have a good deal of size and skill, the group is more important than an individual standout.

"We try to avoid putting a spotlight on one or two guys," Christensen said.

A good example: The Rams offense didn't slow after losing multitalented Joe McKay to a broken leg in mid-October.

Wray has a similar mentality. Jake Beckman is a force, with 1,354 yards rushing in 11 games (the Eagles won by forfeit against Manual early in the regular season), but the running back plays a role just like the other 10 guys on the field.

"It's hard to get 50 guys together and not have egos get in the way. But I've never been around a bunch of kids who make everything about the team," Kramer said. "They don't care about stats. They want to win."

Winning is all that Akron has done the past three seasons and most of the past decade.

But Christensen was quick to add that past success won't cloud the current squad's approach to the big game.

"From the very get-go, we told the guys that past years are just that - past years," Christensen said.

INFOBOX

No. 5 Wray (10-2) at No. 1 Akron (12-0)

PLAYOFF ROAD

* First round: Wray 42, Denver Lutheran 13; Akron 53, Custer County 0.

* Quarterfinals: Wray 34, Limon 20; Akron 35, Calhan 0.

* Semifinals: Wray 27, Rye 0; Akron 28, Yuma 0.

TROPHY CASE

* Wray: Wray is 2-5 all time in title games, winning the Class A title in 1984 and the Class 3A title in 1993. The school's first trip to the big game came in 1949.

* Akron: Akron has played in all but two Class A title games since 1999, winning the championship in 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2007. The Rams are 5-5 all time in the final game.

NUMBERS GAME

* Wray: The Rams have recorded 20 shutouts in their past 38 games and have given up more than eight points only three times during that span.

* Akron: Evidenced by his three touchdowns on only 10 kickoff returns, Wray's Kelly Siegrist is a threat on special teams that the Rams will have to contain.

GAME PLAN

1 Akron can weather a slow start. The Rams have proved unstoppable once they build momentum, whether it's by forcing turnovers or unleashing Dalton Jefferson and Logan Davisson on offense.

2 Wray quarterback Brady Buck needs to remain in a groove, building on a stellar effort in the semifinals.

3 Rams linebacker Benjamin Vigil commands a lot of attention. He leads the team in tackles and has three interceptions.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

WRAY

RUSHING (Att.-Yds.-TDs): Jake Beckman 219-1,354-20; Brady Buck 100-796-9; Kelly Siegrist 84-500-7; Cole Beckman 45-243-3.

PASSING (Cmp.-Att.-Yds.-TDs): Buck 47-118-668-6.

RECEIVING (Rec.-Yds.-TDs): Ben Reinick 31-408-4, Austin Hoffman 6-114-1, Jarrett Cure 3-77-1.

TACKLES: Paul Campfield 93, Cam Berghuis 76, Tim Kerbs 68.

SACKS: Berghuis 41/2, Campfield 4, Bryan Rogers 3, Warren Braz 3.

INTERCEPTIONS: Hoffman 3, Buck 2, Anthony Fecht 2, Reinick 2.

AKRON

RUSHING (Att.-Yds.-TDs): Dalton Jefferson 196-1,544-20; Logan Davisson 109-935-9; Jourdan Hottinger 56-303-2; Alec Vasquez 42-226-6.

PASSING (Cmp.-Att.-Yds.-TDs): Chance Friedly 40-83-685-13.

RECEIVING (Rec.-Yds.-TDs): Davisson 21-393-5, Jefferson 9-112-5, Byron Guy 6-94-3.

TACKLES: Benjamin Vigil 105, Kendall Monasmith 88, Branden Woods 78, Logan Merrill 73.

SACKS: Guy 3, Bruce Hall 3, Brennan Hottinger 2, Jefferson 2.

INTERCEPTIONS: Davisson 4, Vasquez 4, Vigil 3.