Renewed rivalry with Eaton Rapids in 2011?

I'm a bit behind on this one, but after reading the high school enrollment figures on the MSHAA website, I started Googling around about Eaton Rapids.

You see, according to the MHSAA, Northwest and Eaton Rapids have nearly identical enrollments (945 for ER, 931 for NW).

Other than Western, Northwest has played Eaton Rapids the most through the years (24 times, with the Greyhounds holding a 14-10 advantage).

And Eaton Rapids is only 14 miles from Northwest, compared to, say, St. Johns, which is 56 miles, or Owosso, which is 70 miles away.

Well, it turns out that earlier this year, the 26-team Capital Area Activities Conference did some realigning and, starting in 2011, Northwest and Eaton Rapids will both compete in the Gold Division. Read the Jackson Citizen Patriot story.

Lumen Christi is also in the division for all sports but football. Here's the CAAC's website with the breakdown.

The Mounties last played in Eaton Rapids in 2006. And although Northwest won the last four games, three of them were by one touchdown.

In fact, 14 of the 24 games these two teams have played have been decided by 8 points or fewer.

Bringing back this rivalry ought to be good for both schools.