We are inside of two weeks until kickoff of the 2010 Arkansas High School Football season, and coaches, players, and fans from across the state are ready to go to battle with their foes that they play year after year. Each team has that one game though which has the potential to make or break their entire season. That game is their rivalry game.

There are many quality rivalry games across the Natural State, but there is a few which really stand out above the rest. These games are the best of the best. They pack stadiums full; they have a playoff atmosphere, even if the game is early in the season. These are the games that people talk about, and look forward to each year.

Today, ArkansasVarsity.com staff members Luke Matheson and Kyle O'Neal break down the 10 games from the Natural State which we feel are the absolute best rivalry games in the state.

This rivalry dates back to 1965 and has been titled The Battle of Rogers Avenue. Of course, Rogers Avenue is the border line between the schools district lines. Northside leads the all-time series by a 27-18-2 count, but Southside has really come on in the past 35 seasons. The count for the past 35 years; an 18-17 lead after a 26-22 victory. This game has had major implications at times, to include 1987 when the two teams battled for the Class 4A State Championship. Northside would win the regular season battle that year, but Southside would win the State Championship by a score of 7-6. A blocked extra point was the deciding factor.

Can you say 113 over-all meetings? THAT is the definition of a rivalry, or just a good ole fashioned dog fight, if you will. Springdale leads the mark 64-35-14. These two teams have met every year since 1923, making it the longest running rivalry in the state. Some will say since Springdale has split into two districts that this rivalry does not hold as much stature, but we disagree. There are not many rivalries in the nation which have run as long as this one, and if you ask the fans of both schools, that 'bad blood' is still there. Considering these two teams are in the same conference, this rivalry will continue for some time.

The rivalry began in 1952 with a 37-7 victory by Rison. This year's game will be the 59th season that the two teams have met up. In the early 90's, the two teams started battling for the Paul "Bear" Bryant Trophy. Bryant is one of the greatest football minds of all time, and was born and raised in Fordyce. The agreement was that the first team to win 3 straight games would forever hold possession of the Trophy. In 1996, Rison won their third straight game to take Eternal Possession of the coveted trophy. This year, the rivalry will have different implications. For the first time in the series history, Rison and Fordyce will be in the same classification, and the same conference. This could add a lot more luster to the rivalry, and it could potentially be for a conference title. Fordyce leads by a 30-23-5 margin.

Everyone in the Natural State knows about this game, which is also known as 'The Salt Bowl'. This rivalry began in 1974, and has quite honestly been pretty close throughout the years. Benton holds a 24-12-1 advantage in the series. The rivalry heated up in 1981 when Benton's student-council had pink spray-painted marshmallows dropped from an airplane on Bryant's fans, however, the wind would keep the marshmallows from hitting their target. This game has since been moved to Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium.

This rivalry is one that began back in 1949, but it only lasted a short while in its original phase, and the rivalry ended in 1965. Finally in 1981, the rivalry was played during a two year series, and was added back to the schools schedules full-time in 1987. Both teams have met in the playoffs on several occasions, adding to this rivalry. Cabot holds a 16-8 advantage since the rivalry was re-kindled in 1987.

This game dates back to 1910 with Hope winning the Thanksgiving Day affair 28-6. Despite not playing from 1985-1995, this is one of the state's oldest rivalries. Nashville leads the series by a mark of 8-5-1 since the rivalry was put back on the schedule in 1995. This rivalry is one of the state's most heated, and stands a chance at being one of the best if it continues its current course.

This rivalry has historically been one of the most heated since its induction in 1976. Of the 34 times the game has been played, 24 of them have been for a conference title! Alma owns the series by a 20-16 ratio, to include a 20-15 ratio in conference games, but Greenwood has won the past five match-ups between the two squads. Not only are pride and championships on the line in this one, but so are bragging rights between the two rival websites, AiredaleNation.com and GreenwoodDogpound.com. This rivalry brings out some of the best graphic and video work in the state.

This is yet another long running rivalry. This one dates back to 1909 and the teams have played consecutively since 1949. Conway leads the series 49-30-5. One of the signature seasons in this rivalry was in 1992. The Cyclones win the regular season match-up 32-21, but they would meet again in the playoffs, with Conway taking the triple overtime affair by a score of 34-28. This year will mark the 61st consecutive meeting between the two teams.

This is a rivalry which has been quite one-sided. West Memphis leads the series with a record of 28-16-2, and has won the 22 meetings with the Mustangs. This game has been played consecutively since 1954, with the Cotton Bale Trophy being put on the line since 1964. Forrest City has tasted victory only one time in the past 22 years. It would be fair to say that the Blue Devils own this series.

Although it may not have the longevity of some of the other rivalries mentioned on this list, it still has staying power. They've been playing on a pretty consistent basis since the 60s, and it seems that one team has owned the past two decades. The Billies owned the Jacks in the 90s, and Warren has completely owned this past decade, winning every game except '00 and '09. Plus, this rivalry is nasty both on the field between the teams and in the stands between the fans. No love lost between these two fan bases that base much of the success of the season on whether or not they win THIS game.

Pine Bluff vs Watson Chapel

Prairie Grove vs Farmington

Pulaski Academy vs Central Arkansas Christian

Shiloh Christian vs Greenwood

Batesville vs Newport

Paragould vs Greene County Tech