PREVIEW: Milwaukee Riverside Tigers @ Wauwatosa East Red Raiders

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Thursday marks the season opener for Milwaukee Riverside and Wauwatosa East at Hart Park at 7 PM. In a rematch of last year's season opener for both teams, the Tigers from Riverside are out to show that the Milwaukee City Conference Teams can compete with the other SE Wisconsin area teams.

Last year's match up was decidely one sided as the Red Raiders ran away early in the third quarter to post a 41 - 6 victory over a Riverside team that was fresh off an outstanding 2006 campaign in which they lost in the Division I semifinals to perennial powerhouse Arrowhead 24-20.

In 2008, the Tigers are trying to regain their 2006 form, and prove to be a strong contender in the Milwauke City - Richardson conference with Bay View and Bradley Tech. In the season opener, however, they must prove they can perform outside the conference, where they were 1-3 and were outscored 137 - 30 in their 2007 non-conference campaign.

At Tosa East, the Red Raiders look to continue a streak that has seen them in the WIAA playoffs 4 of the past 5 years. Although they play in the powerhouse Greater Metro Conference, which boasts the number 4 and 8 ranked teams in the state in Marquette and Brookfield Central respectively, they are hoping to continue last year's dominance over the city conference teams where they went 2 -0 and outscored Riverside and Milwaukee King by a combined score of 81 - 12.

While not one of the top teams in the Greater Metro Conference, the Red Raiders have some strong skill position players. They are led by QB Ethan Harris, a 6' 2" 185 lb. Junior, and his main target Junior WR Barett Powell, who last year set a school record with 40 receptions for the season as a Sophmore.

Riverside will try to get a strong pass rush on Harris with their all state DE Oscar Johnson, but also must contain the small but quick senior running back tandem of Tyler Love and Mike Cupertino of Tosa East.

On the offensive side of the ball, Riverside will give Senior running back Ryan Givens, who has a scholarship offer pending from Illinois St., plenty of opportunities to run on the Red Raiders undersized defense.

Tosa East will show the depth of the Greater Metro Conference by handling Riverside in the opening game of the 2008 season. Thier offensive firepower will be too much for the Riverside defense to contain, and force Riverside to put the ball in the air.

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