Jenks-Union Backyard Bowl Returns Friday in Tulsa
Jenks-Union Backyard Bowl Returns Friday With District Stakes and Rivalry Pride
One of Oklahoma’s biggest high school football rivalries returns Friday night as the Jenks Trojans travel to face the Union Redhawks in the 23rd annual MidFirst Bank Backyard Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Friday, September 25, at Union-Tuttle Stadium in Tulsa.
This year’s Jenks-Union Backyard Bowl carries additional significance as the longtime rivals meet as district opponents for the first time since 1997. Jenks enters at 1-2, while Union is looking for its first victory at 0-3, but both coaches say the records do little to reflect the talent on either sideline.
Jenks-Union Backyard Bowl Opens District Play
For both programs, Friday marks an opportunity to reset after challenging non-district schedules and begin the portion of the season that will determine playoff positioning.
Jenks head coach Adam Gaylor said Union’s 0-3 record does not tell the full story.
“You just kinda gotta turn the film on, see how really good they are,” Gaylor said. “Because they are good. They are a few plays away from being 3-0, similar to us.”
The Union Public Schools preview of Friday’s Backyard Bowl confirms Jenks enters the game at 1-2 and Union at 0-3. The two programs have combined to win 23 state championships since 1996.
For Gaylor, the beginning of district competition changes the stakes.
“Always a big game. Huge rivalry game. One of the best rivalries in the nation,” Gaylor said. “It’s the first district game and the season resets. Those first three are important, but playoff implications start this week.”
Union head coach Antonio Graham sees the same opportunity for his Redhawks.
“This has always been like a big rival game for us,” Graham said. “With it being a rival game and a district game, there’s just more motivation that you want to kind of get after them and hopefully get the win.”
Historic Oklahoma Football Rivalry Reaches 74th Meeting
The rivalry between Jenks and Union stretches back decades, with the programs meeting continuously since 1976, except for the 2001 game canceled following the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Friday will mark the 74th all-time meeting, with Jenks holding a 47-25-1 series advantage.
It will also be the first time in nearly three decades that the schools have met as district opponents. The last district matchup came in 1997, when Jenks defeated Union 21-11.
The Backyard Bowl itself has grown into one of the most recognizable annual events in Oklahoma high school sports. The rivalry has been played at the schools’ home stadiums and at the University of Tulsa’s H.A. Chapman Stadium, regularly drawing large crowds.
MidFirst Bank has sponsored the event for 23 consecutive years. According to Union Public Schools, the partnership has contributed $600,000 to Jenks and Union schools, with each district receiving another $14,000 this year for educational priorities and scholarships.
Last season, Jenks built an early advantage before holding off a Union comeback for a 48-30 victory.
Quarterback Landon Kizzar completed 15 of 20 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns in that game. Kalib Dillard caught five passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns.
Backyard Bowl Kickoff Set for 7:05 Friday Night
This year, the rivalry moves to Union-Tuttle Stadium, where Union will try to earn its first victory of the season against its biggest rival.
Jenks, meanwhile, has an opportunity to move back to .500 while beginning district play with a victory and adding to its lead in the all-time series.
Graham called the rivalry one of the biggest in high school football during a press conference earlier this week, saying the history surrounding Jenks and Union makes the matchup different from a typical regular-season game.
The MidFirst Bank community program identifies the Backyard Bowl as a longstanding partnership supporting educational programs in both the Jenks and Union school districts.
Fans attending Friday night should also be aware of Union’s stadium policies. Union’s clear bag policy will be enforced, and eighth-grade students and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Student identification is required for school-age spectators under the district’s game-day rules.
For fans watching from home, the game is scheduled to air on YurView, Cox Channel 3, with streaming available through the Cox Contour platform.
Whatever happened during the first three weeks of the season, Friday begins a new chapter for both teams.
Jenks. Union. District football. The Backyard Bowl. Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. Friday in Tulsa.
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