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Locals saw a few familiar faces during the Kentucky-Florida game over the weekend. Valley fans may have recognized the former Rams star Cam Dooly playing defensive back for the Wildcats, or Lanett native Mark Hill on the sidelines, as Kentucky’s Director of Performance. 

But it was two Lanett Panthers who made a unique mark on the game. The last time Trikweze Bridges and Kristian Story played against each other was in rec ball. Since then, they have played on the same side, rising to state and national recognition on the Lanett High School football team. 

Story has had an illustrious career, winning accolades like Mr. Football in 2019 and the Gatorade Player of the Year. He later went on to get a national championship ring with the University of Alabama during his first year in college before transferring to Florida. He was a part of the 2017 and 2019 Lanett state championship teams, joined by Bridges in 2017. 

Bridges still holds the state record for interceptions in Alabama, was an All-American for the Panthers and went on to be a four-star recruit at Oregon. He transferred to Florida last year. 

Now starters for two Division I programs the pair got a chance to meet on the gridiron once more. In a statistical anomaly, both of the high school teammates got an interception during the game, only a couple of plays apart from each other. 

With six minutes left in the first half, Kentucky’s QB Brock Vandagriff tries for a third-down pass. His high throw tips off the fingers of two receivers and hangs in the air. Bridges, who has swapped his black and gold for Florida’s blue and orange, dives for it to give his team possession. In celebration, he holds out the ball in front of him running down the field. 

“I remember telling one of my teammates like, ‘Oh nah, I gotta go get one now’,” said Story of Bridges’ interception.

Bridges told VTN, that the game day was his mom’s birthday and he wanted to get an interception as a present for her. He delivered. 

“I wanted to cheer, but I couldn’t, because [Bridges] was playing against us, but it is always great to see him do good,” Story said. “I just wanted to win.”

The celebration was short-lived for the Gators, when Story zoned in on a bullet downfield, using his momentum to run 60 yards allowing Kentucky to get the ball on Florida’s 10-yard line. 

“I just remember making a break on the ball, and when I saw it getting closer. I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, this is the one’, all that was going through my head was get it and try to get to the end zone,” Story said. 

“I was kinda smiling, well I was smiling, seeing Kristian run 60-plus yards,” Bridges said laughing. He then got serious saying, “Then with such a quick turn around it was back to work and [Kentucky] went four and out.”

After the game, the local kids met on the field, back to being friends instead of opponents. 

“To have Cam, Krisitan and [Hill]…friends and family there, it was something you don’t ever wanna miss out on,” Bridges said. 

The Panthers expressed pride in their hometown. 

“Both of us coming from small town Lanett Alabama, all we want to do is put it on the map,” Bridges said. 

Story added, “We just encouraged each other to keep going, and [told each other] how proud we were…Just seeing how far we came together, to finally get the face off against each other, it was a special moment for both of us.”