Top 25 Games of 2015: No. 3, Tyler Lee vs. John Tyler

The Rose City Rivalry. The annual showdown between Tyler ISD's only two high schools Tyler and John Tyler has taken place every year since 1958, the year in which Lee opened.

This year installment, set for Sept. 11 at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, checks in at No. 3 on ETSN.fm's list of the top 25 games of 2015. It will serve as each team's final tuneup before district play begins.

Tyler Lee QB Zach Hall. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)

When JT and Lee meet in a few weeks, it will be the 60th all-time meeting between the schools. John Tyler leads the all-time series, 31-27-1, and has won three of the previous five matchups.

However, Lee scored one of the biggest upsets in the series' history last season, scoring a 37-31 against JT, which was ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 5A at the time. Lions coach Ricklan Holmes always sets winning the city's championship as his team's first goal each season, and just three weeks in, that went out the window in 2014.

What can we expect in this year's clash?

Lee returns the bulk of its playmakers from an offense that gashed the Lions' normally stingy defense for 567 yards, 339 of which came on the ground. In fact, the Red Raiders had three ball carriers eclipse the 100-yard rushing plateau.

And two of the three are back in senior quarterback Zach Hall and senior running back Tavon Wesley.

Several players that took part in last year's meeting for JT have graduated, but a new crop of playmakers is chomping at the bit.

Junior quarterback Bryson Smith and junior receiver Damion Miller could turn into one of the most feared QB-WR combinations in all of East Texas, while the D-line combo of seniors Braylon Jones and Pierre Leonard will be a nightmare for most offensive lines.