By NICK McQUEEN

nmcqueen@dailynews.net

SALINA -- Three seasons ago, the Oakley Plainsmen and La Crosse Leopards started a three-year rivalry in the postseason.

The Plainsmen squeaked by the Leopards to move on to the sub-state title game against Smith Center, only to, of course, fall to the Redmen, winners of four straight 2-1A state titles.

The idea of facing Smith Center again, though, didn't waiver either team as the two met up again in November, this time the Leopards gaining the upper hand on a Plainsmen team thought to contend with the juggernaut in Smith Center.

The most recent matchup, a November 2007 rematch, Oakley took one back, improving its record to 11-0 and forcing another battle with the Redmen, this time on pace for a fourth straight unbeaten campaign -- a feat eventually accomplished at Lewis Field Stadium.

Still, the path to a fourth straight title for the Redmen didn't come without facing either Oakley or La Crosse in the postseason. And, in the middle of it all were La Crosse's Mike Powell and Oakley's Aaron Racette -- recent teammates who have been practicing opposite each other on the line this week for the 2008 West squad in the 35th annual Shrine Bowl.

The two tangled in practice Wednesday at Salina Stadium as the West looks to defend last year's win, and two in a row. The Shrine Bowl is set to kick off Saturday at 7 p.m. at Welch Stadium at Emporia State University.

"It's been pretty fun," said Powell, the 6-foot-3, 260-pound offensive lineman from La Crosse. "Practices are pretty tough out here in full pads. It all seems a little new, because we haven't played football in quite a while."

Powell is penciled in as the starting left tackle for the West squad and is one of several junior college signees headed for fall camp following his participation in the annual charity event, designed to benefit the Shriners' Childrens' Hospital. He is one of two players from La Crosse, along with Andrew Hollis, who will compete this season at Hutchinson Community College.

"It's great to be back out here on the field,"¬ Powell said. "We get to come out and play football again in front of a lot of people.

"Being in this all-star game is a privilege,"¬ he added. "It brings a lot of pride to myself and all of my teammates that helped me get to this place."

This week, Powell has not only pushed around, but embraced an entirely new set of teammates. Most familiar to him are guys like Racette, and Smith Center's Braden Wilson and Kirk Palmer, also members of the 2008 defensive unit.

"It's a little different," Powell said. "I've always looked at them as guys we just can't find a way to beat.

"But, they're not bad guys," he added. "Now that we're in the same uniform, we're all the same out here."

That hasn't stopped Powell from demonstrating his bully-like appearance on the O-line this week in practice. Powell, who received several all-state selections and was a 11-man first-teamer on the HDN All-Area team last season, has spent the last four seasons blocking for one of the better players in the state in running back Marshall Musil, who will enter his senior season at La Crosse already verbally committed to the University of Oklahoma.

He did it blocking against guys like Racette, one of the better defenders in 2-1A that Powell has faced.

"He's right up there," Powell said with Racette lurking over his shoulder following Wednesday's practice. "There aren't a lot of good guys when you play at a little school like La Crosse, but he's probably one of the best I've ever seen."

That reputation earned Racette, also a 215-pound state wrestling champion as a junior, a spot on the Shrine Bowl squad.

"Starting out, I think we were all a little sketchy," said Racette, a two-time HDN Super-11 selection the past two seasons. "It's a new experience, but as the week has progressed, we've all started gelling together pretty well, and it's been a real great week."

Racette made the squad and is slated to start at defensive end after recording 81 tackles for the Plainsmen last fall, guiding the team deep into the playoffs where they fell to Smith Center, just two games shy of the title game. He also rushed for 1,837 yards on 225 carries, proving his all-around worth on the field.

"We're pretty quick on the line, and we have a real strong linebacking corps," Racette said of the West. "I think we'll dominate them on the line."

The Shrine Bowl is a refresher course for Racette, who will play football at Garden City Community College in the fall, along with Shrine Bowl teammate Taylor Elder of Sharon Springs, one of only two eight-man players on the squad (See Friday's HDN).

Racette made the choice to go to Garden City in the fall after contemplating several Division II and other junior college opportunities.

He didn't rule out competing in both football and wrestling at the Div. II level.

"There were some other schools," he said. "I have this dream, though, to play D-I football. I could have went D-II and probably competed in both.

"But, I want to play Division I football --¬ that's the goal,"¬ he added.

Garden City transferred six players to the Div. I ranks this season.

"I probably need to grow a little bit more,"¬ the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder said. "Right now, though, we're focused on dominating the East, and doing our thing -- that's about it."

It's a common goal for the 34 players and six coaches from all levels of the game in the state in the West camp, ilustrated by their chant of "West" to end Wednesday's practice.

Twice, the Shrine Bowl has been played at Welch Stadium, both of which resulted in East wins. The West owns a 20-13-1 advantage in the series and has won the last two meetings.

The real goal, though, is to raise money benefitting the Shriners' Hospital, the focus of everyone's efforts this week, which began with the visit to the St. Louis branch for both football squads.

"It really showed me why we play this game, and why we do everything we do this entire week,"¬ Powell said. "It's not just about football, but all the kids this thing is aimed at helping."