Rivalry games are always a highlight of the high school football season. The Hartford - Homestead game certainly fits under that category.

"It's been an established rivalry from the get - go with Homestead," said Orioles' Head Football Coach John Redders. "Even before we joined the North Shore Conference."

Hartford Union High School became a member in 2017, which created the annual conference matchup with the Highlanders - who joined the North Shore in 1985. 

"We know that every time we play Hartford, it's going to be tough," said Highlanders' Head Coach Drake Zortman. "It's always been that way through the years, we always get their best."     

Hartford and Homestead played each other occasionally during the 1990s in non-conference football games, and the history between the esteemed programs goes back even further to the 1970s with two legendary coaches from each school.   

"Our former Head Coach Dan Brunner and their former Head Coach Dave Keel used to play high school football against each other," Redders said. "It really adds something to the history of this game."

Brunner and Keel are both members of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.       

The Orioles host the Highlanders Friday night, September 4 at Gib Mahr Field.  

The last time Hartford (0-2) defeated Homestead (2-0) was 2022, by the score of 30-23. Orioles' running back Noah Deibert rushed for a team-high 174 yards and three touchdowns while the Highlanders' rushing attack included 147 yards by Sal Balistrieri. 

Last year's final score was 48-0, an impressive win for Homestead.

Having success running the football will once again prove to be paramount in the next installment of this rivalry series.  

"It starts there in so many ways for us," according to Redders. "We have faith in our offensive line and are blessed with many talented running backs."

The list of reliable running backs is once again long for the Orioles this season.

Hartford's offensive line has stepped up to the challenge and will be counted on against the Highlanders. 

It's a similar theme for Homestead.

"It all starts up front for us," Zortman claims.

Catch all the live action of Hartford and Homestead on 104.9 WTKM with Adam Majerus on the call. Streaming live on wtkmnews.com. with the pregame at 6:45 p.m. and kickoff at 7 p.m.