The Centerville and Wayne football programs have provided the area’s best Division I rivalry. It dates to their Western Ohio League days in the early 1980s.

They’ll renew the fireworks again in Week 8 of the regular season at 7:30 p.m. today when Centerville (5-2) hosts Wayne (5-2). The contest will be carried live on several radio stations, including WING-AM (1410). It also will be shown on tape delay at 1 a.m. Saturday morning on Time Warner Cable Ch. 99.

Their best game in this series? That’s a tough call. Probably can’t beat the 36-33 double-overtime defeat that Wayne handed Centerville in the 2010 regional semifinals at Welcome Stadium. Many current NCAA Division I players were on the field that night, including seniors Braxton Miller (Wayne) and Michael Bennett (Centerville), both starting at Ohio State University now.

It’s easier to recall the beginning of this series.

By 1981 Centerville had imposed itself as the WOL’s best. Upstart Wayne pulled off a late fake punt that led to the Warriors snapping the Elks’ 53-game WOL win streak.

“That’s really when the rivalry began,” recalled Elks coach Ron Ullery, an assistant under Bob Gregg back then.

“Wayne/Centerville is obviously one of the best high school football rivalries in Ohio. It’s one of those games where you throw all the numbers, all the records, all the previous games right out the window. It’ll be electric.”

It also will go a long way toward a Greater Western Ohio Conference Central Division title and securing a place in the Region 4 playoffs.

The Warriors were rolling with four straight wins, including a 21-14 defeat of Trotwood-Madison. But visiting Beavercreek stunned Wayne 14-13 last week.

Centerville has recovered from a 0-2 start to win five straight. The Elks are coming off a 13-0 defensive grinder against Northmont.

Wayne, led by senior quarterback Javon Harrison, will most certainly press the Elks’ secondary. Centerville QB Jimmy Brooks is at the controls of the Elks’ ball-control running game.

“It’s hard to describe (the rivalry) even if you’ve played or coached in it,” Wayne coach Jay Minton said. “Hopefully, throughout the years Ron and I have helped this thing become highly respected by both sides.”