By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

Osborne and Downs-Lakeside high schools, located 12 miles apart, have a big rivalry in all sports, except football. Osborne has always played 11-man football, while Lakeside is in eight man. This year, though, Osborne dropped down and will meet its neighbor in the Bulldogs' inaugural eight-man contest Friday night at Osborne.

Lakeside senior wide receiver Connor Shoemaker said the game "will be interesting," while Osborne junior quarterback Ethan Slothower added there has been "lots of talk back and forth."

"I think it is going to be a lot of fun because they are right there close to each other," Lakeside coach Curt Christians said. "I am excited. I know the kids are excited. I am sure Osborne is excited about it, too."

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Neither squad has enjoyed much success in recent years, combining for one winning season, one playoff berth and no postseason victories since 2003. Both programs, though, are on the rise. Lakeside improved by four wins last fall and lost two other contests by 12 points each.

"We just failed to have some leadership and just couldn't close the deal, but now I think we have some kids that have some experience," Shoemaker said. "We got a lot more numbers now and everybody can play. I think we got more depth and people that were willing to put it out there. I think we will be able to finish this year."

Osborne has been better in each season under fifth-year coach Cullen Riner. The Bulldogs won three games in '09 and had multiple close defeats, too. Both teams return multiple starters, especially at the skill positions, but have new players at key places, namely quarterback for Lakeside and linebacker for Osborne.

"They are going to be a very good football team this year and have a chance to be a playoff football team," Riner said. "But if we want to be a playoff football team, we are going to have to beat a playoff football team. I am looking forward to it. It will be a good first week test for us."

For Lakeside, junior Alex Renken will step in at quarterback after he performed admirably at the junior varsity level. Renken put on 25 pounds in the offseason and is a multi-dimensional threat. He'll work behind an inexperienced offensive line that has to replace both guards and tight end; four players were in the mix at guard spots at the start of camp for an offense that averaged 32.7 points per game.

"I think (Renken) is a playmaker," Christians said. "He can run it and he can throw it. We have some kids that can catch it. I think our key offensively will be our line play."

Senior Jakob Demars plays a pivotal role for the Bulldogs at tight end/linebacker. He'll take over for graduated Trevor Oliver on defense, a first team all-conference player who recorded a team-high 101 tackles and helped the Bulldogs permit 21.7 points per game, best in the Riner era. Demars finished second on the squad with 65 tackles in 2009.

"Trevor was an average athlete who was extremely aggressive and just played beyond his ability," Riner said. "Think by midseason, Jakob will be doing many of the things Trevor did. ... (He) might be the most important piece to our puzzle this year."