A local rivalry is being renewed on the gridiron tonight.
After a two-year stint in the Northeastern Conference, the Two Rivers Raiders are back in the EWC and will make the short bus ride south to Rubick Field in Manitowoc to battle the Roncalli Jets in a key week four matchup.
Both teams are looking to get back to .500 in conference and overall.
These teams have a lot in common.
Both are young teams trying to find their way, and they both found out how tough this league can be, following losses last week to two of the better teams in the EWC.
Two Rivers (0-1,1-2) lost at home to St. Mary Catholic 37-7 in a game where the Zephyr defense flexed its muscle, sacking Raiders sophomore quarterback Easton Carriveau nine times and forcing three turnovers, including an interception return for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Roncalli (0-1,1-2) fell to New Holstein 56-7 as the Huskies are ranked tenth in this week’s Division Five Bound Coaches Poll.
Speaking of Carriveau, he’s taken his share of punishment in the first three games of the season but has shown flashes of brilliance, completing nearly 59 percent of his passes.
Sophomore running back Isasis Nora is also rounding into shape, having rushed for 91 yards in the loss last week to St. Mary Catholic.
Roncalli is also led by a sophomore quarterback.
Jack Panosh has thrown the ball only 33 times in the first three games of the season, but he’s relied on a running game to take some of the pressure off.
Senior Logan Kinze leads the team in rushing with 194 yards, and senior Ethan Reimer has 142 yards through three games.
Senior Jake Hillmer is a dual threat in the run and pass game, and the Jets are counting on some of their senior experience to carry them to victory.
As for Two Rivers, they feel they have the pieces to not only compete but be a factor in the EWC race.
Head Coach Kevin Shillcox told seehafernews.com after last week’s loss to St. Mary Catholic that if they cut down and clean up those mistakes, they’ll be there at the end every single week.
Coverage of tonight’s game begins at 6:45 p.m. on 980 WCUB and cubradio.com.
Other games in the EWC include undefeated New Holstein (3-0) visiting 2-1 Brillion, a pair of 2-1 teams meet in Fox Crossing as Chilton travels to St. Mary Catholic, and Valders, in search of their first win of the season, are in Kiel.
