When the Lone Peak Knights and the Bountiful Braves met in the state football title game two years ago, little did they know it was the beginning of a nice little rivalry.

Since the Braves knocked off the Knights that afternoon with a late field goal, they've gone on to defeat Lone Peak twice more in a little over a year — a 21-9 season-opening win last year and 26-8 semifinal victory last November in the 4A playoffs.

When the Knights travel north on Friday to take on the defending state champs, they're hoping it's their turn to walk off the field smiling.

"They've got us three straight, and four doesn't sound too good," Lone Peak coach Monte Morgan said.

But the Knights aren't necessarily out for revenge, even though Morgan says a win would be nice. They're looking at the game as a chance to get tested, and improve, against a top-quality team.

"We're going up there to play hard and to be as competitive as we can, but we like to look at the big picture and take the season one game at a time," Morgan said.

The game will also serve as a measuring stick for both teams to see how they've recovered from losing a good crop of stars to graduation. The Braves, with only two returners on offense, lost a bigger core of their starting lineup than the Knights. But both teams have the same rebuilding characteristics — deep in talent at every position with plenty of good players ready to take over. That might be why the two teams like to play each other so much.

"It's a rivalry out of respect and admiration, rather than one out of disrespect or dislike," Morgan said.

Lone Peak will go with three quarterbacks during the preseason, trying to find a replacement for the departed two-year starter Mike Jensen. Senior Matt Bahr, who filled in nicely in two starts last season, is tall, smart and has a good arm. He should see most of the playing time Friday. Juniors Billy Burgess and Steve Jensen, however, are making the job competitive and should get some snaps.

Even though several players on both sides will be starting for the first time at the varsity level, none have tasted defeat very much as they've progressed through the ranks. Just another reason why Friday's match-up of Class 4A powers should be another classic pigskin battle.

"We know that they are a really good team and we know we're going to have to play our very best to win," Morgan said.

Rayburn's pick: Bountiful