Edmund Burke said, “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.”

Hendersonville’s football team hopes that Gallatin has a short memory because the Commandos got beat by the Green Wave during the regular season last year, and then beat them in the first round of the playoffs on their way to a state runner-up finish.

Gallatin has hopes of breaking the string of postseason let downs the Green Wave have experienced over the past few years, and if they hope to do that, it has to start Friday night.

“(Hendersonville) has gotten much better over the past few weeks since we saw them,” said Gallatin Coach Robert Lassiter. “They seem to be doing much better on both sides of the ball, and as always, they are well coached.

“I feel quite sure that we’ll get their best game, so it’s going to be a huge challenge for us. All we can do is have a good week of practice and hope our guys are ready.”

Hendersonville Coach Bruce Hatfield admitted the Commandos didn’t play well the first time the two teams met almost a month ago.

“We just didn’t play as well the last time we played, but Gallatin had a lot to do with that,” said Hatfield. “Anytime you play a good team they tend to be able to exploit your weaknesses.

“Gallatin did just that to us, so after that game we went back to work to try and improve some things. Hopefully we’ve been able to do that, but we’ll see this Friday.”

Hendersonville and Gallatin know each other so well that this is a game that will come down to a play that neither has seen before this season, or turnovers.

“We both know each other, and I have no doubt that Hendersonville will play ten times better than they did the first time we played,” said Lassiter. “We’re going to have to match that, or we’re going to be in trouble because they are very capable to beating us if we don’t play our best.

“Just like most games where there is a rivalry involved, it’s going to come down to which ever team that wants it more and can play the most complete game. Hopefully, that will be us because if it’s not then Hendersonville will be more than happy to take the win.”

Hatfield agreed saying, “Not much has changed about either team. We know what we’re going to have to do in order to get the win, and we know that Gallatin will be ready for us.

“We’re going to have to be on top of our game because we know that they will be.”

The two teams will kickoff in the second round of the playoffs Friday at 7 p.m. in Gallatin.

by Chris Lynn