Tonight's the night Jefferson City's two homecoming celebrations cross paths.
Jefferson City High School hosts Washington High in JC's homecoming football game at Adkins Stadium - and it begins at 6:30 p.m., an earlier-than-usual starting time to accommodate Lincoln University's pep rally schedule.
For the past few years, LU has held a Friday night homecoming pep rally at Dwight T. Reed Stadium, ending with a fireworks display.
Last year, the LU pep rally began at 8 p.m. - and the fireworks at 8:30 p.m. disrupted Helias High School's homecoming football game against Hannibal, distracting players and halting the game for nearly 20 minutes.
So this year's LU rally begins at 8:30 p.m. (two hours after the high school game start) and, in coordination with Jefferson City School District administrators, the LU fireworks will begin at 9 - or after the Jays-Washington game is finished, whichever comes second.