I might use "pageantry and "history" rather than "intensity and excitement" as the clause that you used really does a disservce to the other athletes in the area.
Take for example the NC/Porter game. These two schools, which share a school board and a stadium, will be competing for a district title. While the current playoff format takes some of the emphasis off of a DC, that means a lot to the schools competing for it.
Further, there are schools all over the area that are playing tonight to not only gain a DC, but are playing to extend their football seasons and, as for the case of some of these young men, their football careers. Are you really meaning to imply that those who are involved in those games will be any less "intense" or "excited" than the folks in Nederland tonight?
Don't get me wrong, Mid County Madness is a huge part of football not only in Southeast Texas, but in the entire state. Thus, it should be a celebrated game and it will be here at SETXsports.com. However, it has seemed more and more that other football in the area is basically ignored the week of Mid County Madness and many of folks outside of the city limits of Port Neches, Groves and Nederland are beginning to resent that.