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Eddy Peach gave life to Scott Peach. He raised him like any father would. He taught him football, even coached him at Arlington Lamar.

Scott grew up to become the coach at Arlington High, which can make the playoffs if it wins its last two games.

But in doing so, Scott's team would eliminate his father's Lamar team from the playoff race. Arlington and Lamar face each other tonight.

So Scott, how about a little sympathy for the old man?

"I look at it the other way around," Scott Peach said, laughing. "I couldn't believe that dad would want to do that to me. I'm his first-born son. He should want to take care of me in that situation."

Scott knows that he and his father are far too competitive to give any quarter, even to immediate family members. This isn't the first "Peach Bowl" – the nickname given for Peach vs. Peach battles, which started in 2003 when Scott became the coach at Arlington.

But this is the first time the son has a chance to knock the father out of playoff contention.

Lamar is sitting at 1-4 in district play, but in crazily competitive District 8-5A, a 3-4 record might earn a playoff berth.

Arlington is 2-3 and in control of its own playoff destiny. A loss to Lamar seriously damages Arlington's chances.

So Eddy, any sympathy for your kid?

"He's going to coach his team, and I'm going to coach my team," the elder Peach said. "Is it a hard week? Yes. Debbie and I are parents and we want to see our son do well. But the bottom line is he's going to do everything he can to win this game, and I'm going to do everything I can to win."

Debbie Peach wore a split sweatshirt to the first Peach Bowl in 2003. One half was in Lamar colors and the other was in Arlington colors.

However, Scott said the game has become so emotional for his mother that she took a vacation to San Antonio last year rather than attend the game.

Eddy said his wife will attend this year's game, which perhaps has more on the line than any previous Peach Bowl.

"It just adds that much more pressure to the already tough situation of family involvement," Scott said of the potential to eliminate his father's team from playoff contention. "It's tough on both of us, win or lose. I know that for a fact."

When Scott, 32, was a young assistant at Arlington Martin and Arlington Sam Houston, he used to talk strategy and personnel with his father during the week leading up to their game.

Then one day Scott's wife, Kim, pointed out to him that most of the conversations were one-sided. Eddy, 66, the wise veteran, just soaked in all the free information Scott provided him.

Now Scott says he avoids football talk around his father the week before playing Lamar. The football gag order was in effect Wednesday night. Scott and Kim brought their 19-month-old son, Cooper, to Eddy's house for Halloween, then Eddy and Debbie Peach went to the Shackelford Junior High game. Younger son Shawn is the coach there.

Eddy has never coached alongside either of his sons while winning 296 games at Lamar. Arlington ISD nepotism rules prevent Scott and Shawn from being on his staff.

"That's one thing that I would've liked to have done," Eddy said. "They both played for me, and that was a great experience."

Scott said he has a secret weapon for tonight's game. If he sends little Cooper over to the Lamar sideline, he knows Eddy won't be able to take his eyes off his only grandchild.

"I'm pretty proud of that grandson, I can tell you that," Eddy said.

THE PEACH BOWL

Arlington (3-5, 2-3 in 8-5A) vs. Arlington Lamar (4-4, 1-4), 7:30 p.m. today, Arlington's Cravens Field