The Cathedral High School football team found a colorful way in 2012 to recognize those affected by cancer.

Under then-head coach Ron Rushing, Cathedral implemented the Pink Wave Project, with its purpose to raise money for Relay for Life, St. Jude and Batson children’s hospitals.

The tradition will continue today when the Greenwave suit up in pink jerseys and take on MAIS powerhouse Jackson Prep.

Pink Wave Project chairman Heather Lewis said T-shirts will be sold and plenty of donations made by fans at the game.

“It’s been hugely successful in the five years,” Lewis said. “Everybody always asks about it. It’s an awesome sight to see; everyone is wearing pink, and the have fans have really gotten behind it, and it’s important to them.”

Lewis said one of her favorite aspects of the event is what transpires in the south end zone, where the fence will be filled with pink index cards and names of cancer patients, survivors and those who lost their lives to cancer written on the cards.

“It promotes good will in the community, and it’ gives others a chance to give something back,” she said.

The Patriots (2-0) enter the showdown winners of their last 22 contests.

“They’re very technique sound,” first-year CHS coach Chuck Darbonne said. “They play hard, and they play a lot of kids, and they wear people out.”

Cathedral enters Friday’s tilt attempting to reverse its fortune from a disappointing showing in last week’s 44-20 loss to St. Joseph-Madison.

The Greenwave (1-1) led the Bruins 20-10 late in the first half, but 34 unanswered points gave St. Joseph a resounding 44-20 win, spoiling Darbonne’s home debut.

“There was some bad effort, which hadn’t showed up in practice,” Darbonne said. “We had bad conditioning, which was a complete shock to me. I don’t think we laid down, we just weren’t in as good as shape as we thought we were.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

“We have to play with better effort and make it through four quarters,” Darbonne said. “We didn’t finish strong against St. Aloysius (an 18-14 win in week 1), and we didn’t put four quarters together last week. We’re trying to get in better shape and play harder.”