INDEPENDENCE, Ky. -- Simon Kenton High School and Ryle High School are rivals on the football field and on the sidelines, making Friday night's matchup even more exciting.
"I feel like Simon Kenton is at a really similar level to us," said Ryle senior cheerleader Alleyna Locke, "so playing them versus other games, I feel like it's a lot more intense."
The Raiders and Pioneers go head-to-head at the annual Universal Cheer Association competitions, but there's more to being a Raider cheerleader than that.
"Starting high school is really hard, and when you're on a team, it's just so much easier because you can make new friends and get to know people throughout the years," said Ryle cheerleader Hailee Carter.
Simon Kenton's cheerleaders, band, pep squad and Principal John Popham gathered early Friday morning to get pumped up for the big rivalry football game hot off its girls' soccer team capturing a third consecutive regional championship Thursday night.
Watch Popham discuss the soccer championship and the band play in the video player below.
Love that Kenton Simon fight song! Good luck tonight @SKHSFootball! #BeatRyle @WCPO pic.twitter.com/uDbqvLDuGO
— Ally Kraemer (@AllyKraemer) October 20, 2017
