The junior varsity football game between Pinecrest and Union Pines has traditionally provided an exciting prelude to Friday's main event -- The Battle of the Pines.

The Viking jayvees led 8-6 at halftime last year in a game the Patriots went on to win 32-16. The series that began in 2001 includes a 42-36 overtime game in 2004, and 34-32 double-overtime thriller in 2005, both won by the Pats.

Originally scheduled to be played at Union Pines, tonight's 7 p.m. jayvee contest has been switched to Pinecrest because of ongoing work on the seating at Woodrow Wilhoit Stadium.

Both varsity squads will go into the Battle of the Pines VIII on Friday night, also at Pinecrest, with 1-0 records.

"It's a great week of football, and we're excited about having both games here," Pinecrest head coach Chris Metzger said while watching Union Pines game film on Monday. "We're hoping to have a humongous crowd on Thursday. Come out and enjoy our jayvee game and then head home and watch North Carolina State play South Carolina."

Many of the contributors to last year's 8-2 Pinecrest jayvee team have moved up to become varsity starters this season.

"We're going to be a little younger this year as compared to last year," Metzger said of the jayvee team. "Our jayvee kids are the unsung heroes of our program. They serve as the scout team for the varsity and do a great job of preparing us."

The Union Pines junior varsity won two games last season during which many of the Viking sophomores were making major contributions to the program's success at the varsity level.

Viking head coach Jason Furrie says this year's jayvee squad will be on the young side again, including a good freshmen turnout.

"I know our guys are excited," he said. "They haven't gotten to scrimmage except against each other, but things are coming together."