Crosstown is our new series for this season focused on rivalry games. We highlight some of the biggest and longest standing rivalries in the country with teams that are just miles away from each other. The podcast is designed for the coach and we get insight on how to prepare for, for and coach in these big games. We talk with the head coaches of each side of the rivalry and get their perspective.

This week’s game is one of the biggest rivalries in Iowa as the #4 Valley Tigers take on #1 Dowling Catholic Maroons. The schools are just 2.6 miles apart.

Valley and Dowling started an annual rivalry in 1968 and this week are playing for the 51st consecutive regular season meeting, 7 p.m. Friday at Drake Stadium in Desmoines. Drake has a capacity of 14,557.

Dowling owns a 32-18 advantage in regular-season games. Valley has won 10 of 21 playoff meetings, though. Dowling won the last meeting 42-14.

Dating back to 2000, the two schools have combined to win 13 state football championships — five for Valley, in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2011; and eight for Dowling, in 2000, 2001, 2010 and every year since 2013 (five in a row).

Tom Wilson is now in his 14th season at Dowling, and during that time, he’s won 142 games. In his 22nd year overall, Wilson has amassed 234 wins with six state championships. Dowling Catholic is the first 4A school in Iowa to win five consecutive state championships

Gary Swenson hit his 350 career win when his Tigers beat Southeast Polk last Friday. During his 25 seasons at Valley, Swenson has amassed 225 victories. He is in his 43rd year of coaching with 6 state championship (five at Valley).

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The game can be viewed live and on replay on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/XdJ8ik4Fl6c

03:09 What the mean games to Wilson

04:15 What is out of the norm for a typical game week

05:15 Try to keep normalcy and let everyone else hype the game

05:30 Managing being in the spotlight in the media; a lesson learned in 2005

07:11 Finding the balance of soaking in the moment yet keep normalcy

09:04 Growth between week one and two while facing a rival

10:06 Keep it narrowed down to improvement day to day

11:10 What do you say before the team takes the field in this game?

12:54 Appreciate the opportunity of the rivalry and your piece of history

13:29 Managing the highs and lows of the big game

15:51 A play that stands out in the rivalry for Wilson

18:10 Getting ready for the week after the big game

20:00 Wilson’s tips for being successful in and after the rivalry week

22:00 What makes the game special for Swenson

24:06 Balancing the big game and normal preparation over the week

25:48 It’s one contest on our record

27:23 Preparing the uptight team vs. the hyped up team

30:30 The ebbs and flows and how Swenson handles it

32:36 Mutual respect of the opponents starts with the coaching staff

33:19 Swenson’s most memorable moments of the rivalry

35:35 Swenson’s tips for coaching in the big game