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Before Coffee County battles Warren County on the basketball court at The Patch on Friday, Feb. 7, the two schools will have a different sort of battle off the court; a race to see who can raise more money for a good cause.

The rivalry between the two schools can prove to be tense at times, but if it has proven anything over the last two years, it’s that both communities can come together for a great cause.

For context behind this newfound tradition, let’s flashback to last January.

It all started on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, when Coffee County played host to Warren County.

Coffee County won both games that night, however, during the boys’ game, things got a little heated between fans, which prompted Thunder Radio to design a t-shirt that stated “Not a whole lot good comes out of Warren County… ‘Cept HWY 55 and Prater’s.”

The design was posted on social media two days later on Jan. 29 with some proceeds going to The Dream for Weave Foundation.

For those that may not know, Prater’s is a BBQ restaurant based in Morrison and at the time, there was a second location here in Manchester.

While the shirt design was made in jest and was seen by some as just part of the rivalry between the two schools, it understandably drew the ire of the Warren County faithful.

Some from the Warren County side made up their own ideas for a clapback shirt. One of the notable designs by Savannah Hall stated, “Roses are red, violets are blue…Coffee County only has Bonnaroo, and Prater’s #2.”

From this point on, fans and business from both counties stepped up to the plate to see who could raise the most money for their local charities, with Warren County fans choosing to donate to McMinnville Special Games.

Even though Coffee County would win both games again on Feb. 2 at a raucous Charlie Dalton Gymnasium, it would be Warren County winning the charity battle off the court, as an estimated $14,530 was raised for McMinnville Special Games and $12,900 for The Dream for Weave Foundation.

One year later, and the Charity Charge is at it again with Thunder Radio leading the charge on the Coffee County side and Chris Cope, Chairman of the Warren County School Board, taking the lead on the Warren County side.

In contrast to the shirt design that sparked this event last year, one of the slogans for this year’s edition of the Charity Charge is a “Whole lot good comes out of HWY 55.”

Similar to last year, fans and businesses can donate at least $1 or whatever they can afford per point scored by both the girls’ and boys’ teams. For instance, if someone donates $1 per point to the Coffee County side and both teams score 50 points, they would donate a total of $100 to the Dream for Weave Foundation. The same applies to the Warren County teams and McMinnville Special Games.

Those who donated before Friday, Jan. 24 will receive a free T-shirt, the design which will feature an identical graphic for both teams which include the borders of both counties as well as both school logos. The only difference between the shirts will be the colors; Coffee County’s being red and Warren County blue.

Although the deadline to obtain a T-shirt has passed, donations are still being taken before the game occurs on Friday, Feb. 7.

To pledge a donation to the Dream for Weave Foundation, reply under one of Thunder Radio’s Border Battle posts on Facebook or email Dream for Weave’s Ashley Parker at Ashleyparker2411@gmail.com.