It's not quite the Civil War. It won't be the Battle of Antietam Friday night at Clarion University.

But it will be cousin vs. cousin when the Moniteau and Karns City football teams square off for the District 9 Class AA championship Friday night.

Moniteau senior Zane Slater and Karns City senior Levi Buck are close kinsmen, but during Warrior-Gremlin week, all bets are off.

"We don't talk (the week before the game)," Slater said. "You can't be friends during the game."

It is a bit awkward for Slater, Buck and their families when they battle each other on the football field.

Add the potent fuel of a rivalry that has grown to epic proportions over the last several years and the emotions run rampant.

"We usually sit in the stands like this," Sally Slater, their grandmother said, clenching her teeth and fists.

It's tougher still for the combatants.

When Moniteau is on offense, offensive lineman Zane Slater is usually responsible for blocking defensive end Buck.

When Karns City is on offense, Buck is a fullback and Slater is a linebacker.

Their paths cross quite a bit on the football field "on pretty much every play," Buck said.

"It's pretty tough," Slater said. "I don't even know how to describe it. He is probably the toughest guy I have faced on the football field this season and he said the same thing about me."

Still, the cousins are civil.

Both captains, they hugged at midfield during the coin toss when the two teams met inOctober.

When Slater blocks or tackles Buck to the ground during the game, he is the first to help his cousin to his feet.

And when one of them lose to the other, as Buck did toSlater in a 35-34 defeat in October, it carries with it an extra blow.

"It feels real bad," Buck said. "I never lost to him before, since we were in high school."

"It makes for an interesting Thanksgiving dinner," Slater added.

Grandparents Bob and Sally Slater split their loyalties down the middle during the Warrior-Gremlin clashes — literally.

Slater and his wife each wear a sweatshirt split down the seam, one half Karns City colors, one half Moniteau colors.

Zane's brother Zach purchased the sweatshirts for his grandparents.

Bob Slater played for the first Moniteau football team in 1957. Sally was a cheerleader.

The elder Slater's view on the game is as neutral as his shirt.

"We can't lose," he said.

Both Zane Slater and Buck said this week has been like none other.

"We're pretty hyped up," Buck said. "They sent us a message last time and we want to send one back."

Slater said the Warriors' practices this week have been lively and physical.

"We're killing each other, we're so psyched up at practice," he said.

Since cousins Slater and Buck are not speaking this week, the former had a message for his cousin, best friend, and for at least this week, his foe:

"Tell him I said, 'Hi,'" Slater said. "'And I'll see him on the field.'"