The football teams of McKeesport Area and Woodland Hills high schools will open the 2008 season in the prestigious Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge.

Their games will be on Labor Day weekend. The Tigers will play in Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals. Woodland Hills will open at Fawcett-Pro Football Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Their opponents have not been determined. McKeesport and Woodland Hills will be among seven teams from other states that will match up against top Ohio squads.

The othes, pending final agreements, could come from among East St. Louis in Illinois; Chicago St. Rita; Indianapolis Warren Central; Nashville, Tennessee, Montgomery Bell; Prattsville, Alabama; and St Thomas Aquinas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Ohio teams will be reigning D1/AAA state champion St. Xavier, Archbishop Moeller, Elder and Colerain of Cincinnati, plus Middletown, Lakota West and Huber Heights Wayne.

McKeesport school directors unanimously approved the Aug. 29-31 field trip for coach George Smith and his team.

"It will be exciting to see our kids competing against one of the top-ranked football teams in the nation," said director James Brown, board athletic committee chairman and former McKeesport player.

"We don't know who we'll play yet, but we know it will be a great football team," said McKeesport coach George Smith.

Woodland Hills has accepted an invitation to play in the upper Ohio portion of the challenge.

"It's going to be a great experience," said George Novak, Woodland Hills football coach and athletic director. "I'm sure our kids will enjoy playing against one of the best football teams in the country."

Woodland Hills, Jordan in Utah, John Curtis from Lousianna and Indianapolis Central will compete there against Ohio schools Canton McKinley, Massillon, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney and Steubenville.

Matchups for both portions of the Challenge will be announced in March, Mr. Novak said.