NFL Films Pays A Visit To The Backyard Bowl

The Backyard Bowl is bigger than ever. Jenks and Union fought it out in their annual grudge match Friday night at TU's Chapman Stadium, and now their rivalry is getting national attention. The News

Friday, September 7th 2007, 8:22 pm

By: News On 6

The Backyard Bowl is bigger than ever. Jenks and Union fought it out in their annual grudge match Friday night at TU's Chapman Stadium, and now their rivalry is getting national attention. The News On 6â€™s Steve Berg reports both schools are getting the National Football League treatment.

It's the biggest high school football rivalry in the state, and many believe it is one of the biggest showdowns in the whole country.

"Did some thorough research and discovered that in the last 10 years, nothing has more going for it than Union versus Jenks,â€ said James Winer, producer of NFL Films. â€œAnd that's why we're here for show number one."

James is a producer of NFL films, which is producing six, one hour specials for the Versus network. Each show will spend an entire hour highlighting one of what they say are the nation's best high school football games. And even crews accustomed to hanging around professional football players sound impressed.

"I've been to both schools now, I've seen both facilities, and I went to a Big 10 school, and it rivals anything we had at Northwestern University,â€ Winer said. â€œSo I can only guess what's going to happen at the game tonight. It's been an absolutely mind blowing experience so far."

The crews spent Friday afternoon roaming through the schools, taping the pep rally mania. They say the special will focus in equal parts on the schools and the game itself.

"The audience, by the time the game is in full force, the audience is emotionally invested in the teams,â€ said Winer. â€œShould make for a real interesting show and it's something we're real excited about at NFL films."

As for the game, expect the close-ups of spiraling footballs and everything else that NFL Films is famous for.

"We'll have the slow motion cinematography that we're famous for,â€ Winer said. â€œInstead of showing Jerome Bettis plowing through, it might be Chris Adkins."

Show number one, Jenks versus Union, will air on October 18th on the Versus Network. Check your local listings for times.

Watch the video: Backyard Bowl Will Get National Audience

Related Stories:

8/27/2007 NFL Films Eyeing Jenks-Union Rivalry

9/4/2007 Backyard Bowl Media Day