It's an important high school football game for both teams Friday night, September 8.

West Bend East (3-0) hosts Hartford Union High School (2-1) in a North Shore Conference matchup.

The Orioles beat the Suns last season, 38-7.

Hartford head coach John Redders believes it will come down to how the big boys play.

"This game will really test our physicality, they have a big team. It's going to come down to the trenches. The offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers and fullbacks need to take care of business and move people...and stop people. They need to sustain that for four quarters. It will be the test of how our season will go this year."

The Orioles earned their first conference win of the season last Friday night, September 1 over Whitefish Bay, 35-21. Hartford's senior linebacker Austin Minor finished with 13 tackles while Domenic Cifaldi had an interception.

West Bend East head coach Jeff Rondorf says their defense has been strong.

"Our defense has been solid in our first three games. We've given up some points, but our kids have responded to the halftime adjustments laid out by our coaches, and we haven't given up a point in the second half of our last two games. Hartford is known for their run game, and we have to stop the run Friday night."

The Suns earned their first conference win last Friday night over Nicolet, 14-6. West Bend East senior running back Cutler Schmidt led the way for the Suns with 15 carries for 104 yards rushing and one touchdown.

Kickoff at 7:00.