River Ridge is very much a young football program.

The Knights were emphatically reminded of that fact last week as they lost to Model 52-21.

Now, River Ridge will try to bounce back, continuing its quest for a varsity win, when it hosts Cross Keys on Friday.

River Ridge (0-3) has certainly taken its lumps in its first season playing a varsity schedule. Since opening with a 20-2 win over Berkmar's junior varsity team, the Knights lost to Mount Pisgah Christian 26-0 and then narrowly lost to Temple 20-14 before its decisive defeat at Model last week.

After its close, hard-fought loss to Temple the week before, River Ridge got blitzed by 27 first-quarter points from Model and the Knights were never able to catch up after that.

For River Ridge coach Robert Braucht, the loss to Model showed him that his young Knights still have a long way to go.

"We didn't win the game against Temple, but we played them close," Braucht said. "We didn't show up to play Model the way we should have. It's a lesson to the kids that we have to be ready to play every game. We're young and the kids are still learning."

While Braucht believes River Ridge has the talent to be competitive, he acknowledged that his young players still need to improve in the basics of the game.

"The kids need to work more on the fundamentals," Braucht said. "We're losing, not because we're not good enough, but because the kids haven't fully learned the fundamentals yet. We're still a young team and as soon as the kids get better at the fundamentals, we will be a better football team."

Quarterback Jackson Weeg and running backs E.J. Ellis and Will Redding are among the key players for River Ridge.

The Knights may have a good chance to win Friday against a Cross Keys team that has struggled for over the last decade, losing 32 of its last 35 games.

The Indians do have some momentum on their side, however, at after breaking through with a 54-18 thumping of North Cobb Christian last Friday. It was Cross Keys' first on-field win - the school won a game by forfeit last season - since early in the 2006 season.

Despite those long struggles, Braucht was impressed with the athleticism and team speed that Cross Keys possesses.

"They have some kids who are really fast and really athletic," Braucht said. "They can make plays and they can use the field. It will be a good test for our kids."