Lake Oswego holds an unfamiliar title entering its season opener tonight: Three Rivers League champion.

The Lakers won the first league title in school history last season, going undefeated in league games and reaching the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. They enter 2001 favored to repeat, and their title defense starts tonight as the seventh-ranked Lakers play host to Gladstone at 7 p.m.

"Our kids are ready to go," Lake Oswego coach Steve Coury said. "It will be nice to bang heads against someone other than ourselves."

In Gladstone, the Lakers will face a team that has lost 10 consecutive games and is 2-20 in Three Rivers play since moving into the league in 1998. But the Gladiators showed signs of improvement in their season opener. They lead Portland Interscholastic League favorite Franklin 2-0 at halftime before losing 28-8.

Lake Oswego returns 15 starters, including league defensive player of the year Matthis Gehring and three all-league offensive lineman. They also have one of the state's top running back duos in senior Mark Maher and junior Billy Andersen. They combined for 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns on 127 carries last season.

"Expectations are high for us," Coury said. "But when you have a program that is successful like we do, that's what you hope for."