But recruiting players from an area that also is rich in high school rivalries sometimes has its pitfalls.
Asking former Wayne and Centerville competitors to link arms is akin to inviting Protestants and Catholics in Ireland to a prayer vigil.
Although the annual showdown produces only good-natured ribbing now - "On Wayne-Centerville week, you say, `Uh-oh,' because you know we're going to clown around about it," Allen said - the game wasn't always a source of such harmless heckling.
When the teams met in 1999, it was more than that.
"Back then, it was like the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry," Hollins said. "Those were two pretty dominant teams in the Miami Valley with a lot of great athletes and great coaches."
Both teams were 8-0 with a piece of the Western Ohio League championship on the line when they met that season. About 13,000 fans showed up at Wayne's Heidkamp Stadium to watch the Warriors fall, 24-10.
Allen, who transferred to Wayne for his senior year, first developed a disdain for Centerville in fifth grade while playing on PeeWee teams for Trotwood. That game didn't help to heal the hard feelings.
"It was always dirty," Allen said of the rivalry. "What I remember from playing, it was guys trying to get cheap shots in because it was always Wayne against Centerville for the WOL championship - or to go to the playoffs, either one.
"It was that way with everything. It carried over into other sports - basketball in the winter and track in the spring."
The Warriors bounced back to record four playoff wins and finish as the Division I state runner-up. And Hollins said he believes they have Centerville to thank.
"I think that made our season more successful," Hollins said. "Before that, we were undefeated. We didn't know what our weaknesses were. After that game, we regrouped and came on strong."
Now that they're working side by side, enmity has given way to admiration.
"They're classy guys," Hollins said. "Now that we're on the team together, you see the work ethic from Centerville and see why they are a good team."
"There's no bad blood," Hawk said. "Of course, when we played against each other in high school, we were trying to kill each other. You're not out there to make friends. But they're definitely good guys and great players."
He added with a smile: "I'd rather be playing with them than against them."
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