WEATHERFORD —  

Weatherford vs. Richland

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Kangaroo Stadium

Type: Season/home opener, non-district

Last year: Did not play

Richland Rebels (0-0)

Last season: 4-6 overall, 3-5 in District 6-5A

Last week: N/A

Players to watch: WR Kumani Armstead (6-1, 180, 4.6), DT Stephen Coffey (6-1, 260, 5.0), DB Payton Murrell (5-9, 185, 4.6),  Samir Zeqiraj (6-4, 300, 5.6), WR Trent Clark (5-11, 150, 4.7)

Weatherford Kangaroos (0-0)

Last season: 3-7 overall, 2-5 in District 4-5A

Last week: N/A

Players to watch: OG Hayden Davis (6-1, 250, 5.4), OT Jordan Gray (6-3, 286, 5.6), C Sammy Stephens (6-2, 253, 5.6), DE Slade Hodge (6-2, 200, 4.8), DT Kent Sanner (6-1, 232, 4.9), DT Andrew Cape (5-11, 270, 4.9)

Game notes: The evolution of the Roo offense continues in 2012, as the option pitch remains in the repertoire, but little else, with the formations and schemes more conducive to the passing attack while the run remains a staple. The offensive line brings experience and some size to the mix. And offensive coordinator Larry McBroom has and will be putting in his own touches to make the attack more unpredictable.

Look for both quarterbacks, Colton Mallory (senior) and Grant Werts (junior) to take snaps, as the Roos hope to take advantage of each player's strong suits.

Weatherford's seniors are a formidable presence on head coach Reid Waller's squad in this year's campaign, in hopes that the defense can stymie the big plays that were prevalent in 2011.

Richland looks to open up its offense as well under head coach George Kates. A storehouse of accomplished and upcoming wide receivers are on hand for the Rebels, but remaining to be seen is if their two underclassmen quarterbacks will deliver the ball with consistency. And with just four starters returning on its defense, the Rebels' new seniors will need to step up quickly. 

While the non-district games remain a precursor to the all-important district slate, Weatherford hopes a successful start will ensure some momentum heading into the 3-5A maelstrom. An opening win, in front of the home crowd, could only help that cause. 

Aledo vs. Highland Park at SMU

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: SMU - Ford Field

        5801 Airline Road -- Dallas

Type: Season opener/Tom Landry Classic

Last year: Did not play

Highland Park Scots (0-0)

Last season: 12-1 overall, 7-0 in District 10-4A,

Class 4A, DI regional semi-finalist.

Last week: N/A

Players to watch: OL William Barnes (6-3, 260, 5.2), CB Matt Banon (5-11, 175, 4.4), SS Hayden Greer (5-11. 185, 4.6), LB Bryce Green (6-0, 190, 4.7), LB Guy Tom Kellogg (6-0, 185, 4.7)

Aledo Bearcats (0-0)

Last season: 14-2 overall, 7-0 in District 5-4A ,

Class 4A, DII state champions

Last week: Beat Byron Nelson, 50-7

Players to watch: LB Gunner Johnson, WR Willie Gibson, FS Shea Wood, SS Clayton Lowe, LB Jordan Mittie, QB Pate Davis, RB Caleb Frysinger.

Game notes: After several years of turning down invitations to play in the much-ballyhooed Tom Landry Classic, Aledo has agreed to participate for the next couple of openers, setting up, on its face, a very interesting contest on Friday.

Anticipation among Bearcat fans and, generally among high school football followers, is piqued in 2012, as the face of the Aledo offense is decidedly different in the new season. In fact, both teams in the match up to be played at SMU's Gerald Ford Stadium will be establishing their own respective offensive identities.

Aledo looked to be ahead of the learning curve in its scrimmage against Denton Guyer last week, with QB Pate Davis at the helm. 

The Bearcat defense has all the earmarks of a potentially dominant force, so if the offense does need some propping up until it finds its legs, Aledo should give the Scots a good game... or even more than that.

The Scots' strong senior class of last year has moved on, and its new starters will try to settle in ASAP to get ready for a tougher district after realignment. Like Aledo, Highland Park has built a tradition of being highly competitive, so the resolve of both teams, even in a "meaningless" non-district game, may produce delectable eye candy for fans.

Springtown vs. Liberty Christian

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Porcupine Stadium

Type: Season/home opener

Last year: Did not play

Liberty Christian Warriors (0-0)

Last season: 6-5 overall, 3-2 in TAPPS Division I, District I, DI bi-district finalist

Last week: N/A

Players to watch: OL Brad Lundblade (6-3, 280, 5.2), DB Christian Burks, CB Graham Richardson, RB Camron Cornett, FB Dylan Sprock, QB Foster Ford.

Springtown Porcupines (0-0)

Last season: 1-9 overall, 1-6 in District 5-4A

Last week: N/A

Players to watch: DE/TE Bryson Burtnett (6-5, 225, 4.6), QB Colby Moore, RB Tyler Robertson, DL Kolyn Waldrop, WR Caleb Whiteman, P/K Javier Reynoso

Game notes: From the incoming varsity players, up the chain to head coach Brad Turner, the Porcupines are excited about Springtown's return to Class 3A, facing a newly-realigned set of opponents and eager to rinse the bad taste from their mouths from last season. 

Pojo's defense looks strong this year, particularly in the first two layers, who should be able to wreak enough havoc in the opposing backfield to lessen the pressure on the pass defenders. The 7-on-7 season of summer saw the SHS boys at the state finals, so QB Colby Moore and his contingent of Springtown receivers should loosen up the running lanes enough for Tyler Robertson to have another impactful year on the ground attack.

The Warriors offensive line may be its biggest forte heading into the season, anchored by senior OL Brad Lundblade who gets repeated kudos as being a dominant force. The Argyle-based school plays in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) and, habitually lines up UIL schools for its preseason encounters. Aside from the Lundblade effect on offense, Liberty Christian touts an aggressive defensive secondary.

But Springtown seems to be on a mission to re-introduce itself into the 3A fraternity and would love to do so with an opening win at home.   

Millsap at Alvord

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Bulldog Stadium

        U.S. 287 at W. State St -- Alvord

Type: Season opener, non-district. 

Last year’s result: Alvord 20, Millsap 12 

Alvord Bulldogs (0-0)

Last season: 4-6 overall, 2-3 in District 3-2A, DII

Last week: N/A

Players to watch: RB/TE Casen Baker (6-2, 195, 4.6, TE/DE/QB Jordan Locklear (6-2, 280, 4.8), RB/S Brandon Aeling (5-10, 190, 4.6)TE/LB Benni Browne (6-1, 190, 4.8)

Millsap Bulldogs (0-0)

Last season: 3-7 overall, 1-5 in District 4-2A, Div. II

Last week: N/A

Players to watch: OL/DL Payton Vandeveer, WR/DB Shawn Harper, OL/DL Mitchell Coker, WR/DB Daulton Thomas, RB Kristian Martinez, QB Bradley Bottoms

Game notes: With almost a whole new set of faces in its district slate, Millsap will be facing familiar ones in non-district play. And speaking of new faces, there are a bunch of them on the 2012 Millsap varsity roster. With just three seniors who started last year, the youth movement will be important for the Bulldogs. 

Sophomore quarterback Bradley Bottoms (a new face new to the Millsap area)  will be charged with leading the offensive attack, which will still feature the spread, but will intersperse more traditional running sets, as well. Coker looks for his few seniors and his young players to catch fire and over achieve. 

Alvord (the other Bulldogs) could potentially put a potent offense on the gridiron in 2012, led by a couple of big and fast skill players in Casen Baker and Jordan Locklear. 

Though only bring back seven starters (combined) for the new season, the ones coming back were a significant part of last year's squad and could spark better days for Alvord, who missed the playoffs a year ago.