Raiders and Rebels Playing for A Title Once Again
    Geiss, Reynolds, Raschilla, Toy, Johnston, Madeline, just some of the names that have played in the series that makes up the South Range and Crestview rivalry.  And here again in 2010 the two teams will line-up against each other in yet another marquee game in the ITCL.  "Whenever South Range and Crestview get together it's a playoff atmosphere.  This one won't be any different.  The names change, but guess what, it's still South Range, and it's still Crestview," Raiders coach Dan Yeagley would say.
     The Rebels have recorded 7 TCL titles, and 2 ITCL crowns.  One of those a shared title in 2008 when both the Rebels and Raiders finishing the year with 6-1 league marks.  Most of those titles in both leagues have come here in the past decade, with coach Paul Cusick the main conductor of those successful years.  In fact, the Rebels have either won a league crown or made the playoffs in seven of the past ten years.
     The Raiders likewise, have been very succesful in the past decade, including a magical state semi-finalist season in 2005.  Die-hards from both schools probably can recall a 49-32 Raider win over the Rebels in the Regional Semi-Final game at Salem of that year which was a battle to the bitter end  The Raiders have also seen their fortunes soar under the direction of their mentor Dan Yeagley.  They have won league championships or made the playoffs in eiight of the past ten years.
    No question the game this year will provide fans with another great game, and ultimately have a big part in deciding who wins the ITCL championship.  Both schools have great tradition and pride on their side, and it doesn't hurt to have coaches that make these two teams among the best coached squads in the area.  The two coaches have a combined 28 years of head coaching experience, and a tremendous 235-104 winning record, which averages out to a 69% winning percentage.
     "In particular our staffs really respect each other. We kind of like to bounce ideas off one another," said Cusick.  "We talk about weight lifting.  We talk about football.  Everything, how did you handle this situation?  We can learn from one another, and he (Cusick) has done a wonderful job with their program," Yeagley added.
     Since the formation of the ITCL in 2006, the Raiders or Rebels have either shared or won the league title outright every year.  With Crestview finishing in second place in the league in both 2006 and '07 when the Raiders won it.  Last year, when the Raiders suffered through a dismal 2-8 season marked the only year since the beginning of the league that the two did not finish 1-2 in the final standings. 
     "Last year we had a little dip.  Welcome to small school football.  We sat down and learned from them last year. Okay, what did Crestview do?," Yeagley said.  Although it is a short history in the ITCL, generally the winner of this game has gone on to win the league title.
     Overall, the Raiders hold a 30-11 winning advantage in the series, however that margin has been a little closer in recent years.  Crestview is now riding a two-game winning streak in the series, and will probably be considered by most of the local media as the favorite to win the game this year based upon the defending champions title. 
     "I kind of look at it as they have been the measuring stick for everybody, and we want to get there, and I still look at it that way.  We may have had some success the last few years, but in years past they have had our number.  We still have a long way to go to even things out.  But if you look at the players, coaches, history and communities, it is very similar" Cusick remarked.
     There are other great rivalries that abound through the ITCL, but the Raiders and Rebels have developed into one based on the success of the two programs and the coaches that lead them.  "I think the players respect one another, the coaches do, hopefully it will always stay that way.  It is a friendly rivalry, but an intense rivalry," Cusick added.  Friday night will be yet another installment of what could prove to be a league championship game.