ATTLEBORO - You need not remind Kevin Deschenes and his Attleboro High School football team that the Bombardiers' crosstown rivals, the Shamrocks of Bishop Feehan, have won six straight games in the series.

Not just winning, but beating the Bombardiers badly - by a 221-56 margin.

The Shamrocks had four straight Super Bowl teams in that series streak, but Attleboro has been limited to one touchdown or less in four of those games - including a 28-7 decision last year.

Not since 1999 (a 24-10 decision) have the Bombardiers emerged victorious over the Shamrocks. So when the 43rd renewal of the rivalry occurs tonight at Tozier-Cassidy Field, Attleboro has a lot to play for.

In fact, the Bombardiers are playing their best football, having won three straight games after starting the season with a quartet of heart-breaking losses. "They're solid, they're physical and they're aggressive," said Bishop Feehan High coach Tony Wood of the Bombardiers. "They're playing very well these last three weeks."

The Shamrocks (2-5) have played one of the toughest schedules, in any division, in the state, but to beat the Bombardiers, it means more than stopping the running of Luke Johnson and Jon Graziosi and the throwing by Taylor Maynard.

It means not surrendering a lot of yardage on kickoffs and punt returns, not giving AHS yardage as a result of penalties and just playing smarter, according to Wood. "The first thing that we've got to do, in order to beat Attleboro, is improve - we've hurt ourselves with penalties and with field position on special teams.

"We're a young team and who we have is who we have. The best chance that we have to limit some of what they do with their wing-T is do a better job with special teams."

Wood likens the Attleboro-Feehan rivalry to the one that he coached in with for two decades while at St. John's against St. Peter's, an 80-year rivalry. "We had a 12-8 advantage and like they say, it doesn't matter waht the records are.

"I'm becoming familiar with the rivalry here in Attleboro, it has quite a history (and a 21-20-1 lead in the series for the Shamrocks)," added Wood.

"It'll be a fun game. What happened last year or a few years ago doesn't mean anything to the kids on both teams. It's all about this one game."

Norton at Millis

NORTON - The Lancers are reeling from two straight losses, falling from the spotlight in the Tri-Valley League. Millis (3-4, 1-4), with merely two dozen players on the roster, might be the perfect foe for Norton to regain its swagger.

"Obviously, we're not happy with losing two games," said Norton coach Robb McCoy, "but the kids are being positive." Millis might have what he considers to be the best lineman in the TVL, Brett Angell. What McCoy observed on the field in losing to Medfield and Holliston was re-confirmed on game film, "we're encouraged by the fact that those are correctable mistakes being made. It's stupid mistakes, we're beating ourselves."

Fumbles and pass interceptions are one matter, but botched snaps, in-opportune moments for penalties and not getting a good hit on for a tackle are another. "It's missed assignments, defensively too," said McCoy.

Bishop Connolly at Seekonk

SEEKONK - There is only one key to beat the Cougars - slow down and try to harness Bishop Connolly senior quarterback Shane Viveiros. "He's a handful, but if you stop him you have a good chance to win - he doesn't have much of a supporting cast," said Seekonk coach Dave Morgado.

The Warriors (3-3) are slumping from three straight setbacks, games against strong South Coast Conference rivals which resulted in Seekonk being outscored 54-28. The Cougars beat Coyle-Cassidy last week on a field goal in the final minute of play.

Playing on a Friday night, finally playing at home under the lights at Connolly Field could be factors in favor of Seekonk too against the Cougars (3-4). "We've played some tough teams of late and hurt ourselves along the way, but this (Bishop Connolly) is a team that we know that we can play with," said Morgado.

Dighton-Rehoboth at Wareham

REHOBOTH - There may not be a better team in the South Coast Conference this season than the Vikings, what with Delaware University-bound Shea Allard holding rank on both lines and 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback Mike LaPierre, also a Division 1-AA prospect, running and throwing with precision. He directed Wareham (6-1, 4-0) to a 34-0 halftime lead last week against Apponequet.

"They run the same offense that Everett runs, a double-wing," said D-R coach Dave Driscoll, trying to figure out how to keep his offense on the field and the ball away from the Vikings, while also trying to cover all the gaps defensively.

"They are a very good team, they have good size and have everyone back from their championship team of last year," said Driscoll, "and their defense is a lot better."

Tri-County at Diman Voke

FRANKLIN - It is not out of the realm of possibility that the Cougars with the Mayflower League Small School Division title. "This will be only our second league game," said Tri-County coach Dan McLean, whose Cougars (1-5) have a very good chance to emerge victorious at winless (0-7) Diman Voke.

The Cougars have had two full weeks of rest too, since losing to Holbrook, "a game that we should have won, we had them beat," said McLean. "We had the bye week at a perfect time now, we're rested and ready to go."

According to scouting reports out of Fall River, opponents of Diman have been able to run, to pass and put up a lot of points. That's what the Cougars want to hear. "Our kids have been upbeat," added McLean of some tough setbacks. "They're looking forward to getting back on the winning track."