### Sons of Rival Coaches Find Camaraderie Amidst Competition

In Athens, the legendary rivalry between Georgia and Georgia Tech is more than just "Clean Old-Fashioned Hate." For the families whose fortunes hinge on the outcome, it becomes deeply personal. This is especially true for Jake Bobo and Harrison Faulkner, the sons of Georgia’s offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and Georgia Tech’s offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, respectively. Despite their fathers' professional rivalry, Jake and Harrison share a unique bond both on and off the football field.

Jake Bobo and Harrison Faulkner, both high school quarterbacks in Oconee County, represent their respective schools in the GHSA state playoffs. Jake plays for Prince Avenue Christian School, and Harrison commands North Oconee's offense. Both teams will be in action at 7:30 p.m. for their quarterfinal matchups, coinciding with the Georgia-Georgia Tech game being broadcast nationally on ABC. This scheduling quirk, caused by Hurricane Helene's disruptions, has left both sets of parents unable to attend their sons' critical games.

For Jake and Harrison, the absence of their fathers at games is commonplace. "It just feels normal to me," said Jake, a senior quarterback for Prince Avenue Christian. Similarly, Harrison, a junior for North Oconee, echoed that sentiment, noting that it's not unusual for his father to miss games due to coaching commitments.

The significance of high school football in Georgia means that both universities typically avoid scheduling conflicts, but this year's rescheduling due to Hurricane Helene has made it unavoidable. Georgia coach Kirby Smart mentioned that the game's timing was agreed upon for better exposure, not anticipating the overlap with high school playoffs.

Both young quarterbacks have had their fathers present at some of their games this season. Buster Faulkner, benefiting from a Thursday night game, watched Harrison lead North Oconee to a 35-6 victory over Ware County. Mike Bobo, thanks to a Friday night match, saw Jake contribute to Prince Avenue Christian's dominant 55-7 win over Providence Christian.

The quarterbacks' stats this season are impressive. Harrison has become a standout performer, completing 153 of 218 passes for 2,775 yards and 36 touchdowns, while Jake has thrown for 1,162 yards and 12 touchdowns, showcasing their talents despite the limited face-to-face guidance from their coaching dads.

Interestingly, these young athletes also have a personal connection with Aaron Philo, a former high school teammate now playing for Georgia Tech. The bond extends to their rivalry, with both Faulkner and Bobo being key players for their teams and sharing a close-knit friendship. Despite the competitive backdrop, their support for each other remains strong, except when their schools play against each other.

Their friendship began when their fathers worked together in Georgia’s offensive quality-control department in 2022. This professional relationship laid the groundwork for their personal camaraderie despite their fathers' eventual move to rival schools. Their shared experiences at home, school, and on the field have forged a resilient friendship.

With both fathers occupied in their respective high-stakes college rivalry, Jake and Harrison will once again navigate their football journeys parallel to each other, under the "Friday Night Lights," striving to make their families proud. As Harrison Faulkner succinctly puts it, it's less about the coaching and more about the familial support, emphasizing a universal truth: at their core, they are just like any other dad and son.