Angelone era begins as Fostoria takes on Black Knights

Van Buren at Fostoria Last year: Fostoria, 19-14. Outlook: Friday not only marks the season opener, but the first game as head coach for Fostoria's Derek Angelone. "It's something that I've been dreaming of, like I tell these kids, since I was their age," he said. "I knew that I loved playing the game, but I was only good at the game because I understood the game and I knew that coaching was going to take me to places in the game that I really wanted to be at, to succeed at and loved. I've been dreaming of this day since I was 17, 18 years old." His first opponent is Van Buren, a team the Redmen out-scrapped in last year's opening week. Angelone said the Black Knights have some new faces on the field this year, but they present problems because of all the different looks they offer. "Already in the two scrimmages, we've seen multiple looks, we've seen multiple quarterbacks, we've seen multiple running backs," he said. "They do a very, very good job of varying those looks and we're forced then to prepare for those." While that's an advantage for Van Buren, Angelone said his Redmen have the luxury of a handful of veterans in key spots. "Those things are a large advantage to us, just in the fact that we have those pieces," he said. "Now, all together, we're an extremely young team with over 30 of our guys being freshmen and sophomores, … but we have some key pieces that are seniors that can provide leadership and make big plays happen when we need them. "I know the kids are ready and hungry, especially because we haven't gone out and had the success in the two scrimmages the way that we expected to," he said. "Some of that is good, actually, if you look at it on the positive side because the kids are still waiting to go out and play like they know that they're capable of." Hopewell-Loudon at Carey Last year: H-L, 36-19 Outlook: One of the premier games in Week 1 will be played in Carey Friday. Hopewell-Loudon and Carey have each had their share of success on the field recently, but Carey coach Jonathon Mershman said he would like to even his record against H-L since the old MAL rivalry was rekindled three years ago. H-L leads the rivalry 2-1 since it started back up, including a 36-19 win last season in Bascom. "This year will be no different I feel like. It goes back to the MAL days where we played Hopewell every year, it's always a good game," Mershman said. "I'm glad we reignited the rivalry a few years back and I think it's a really good fit for both teams and to play in Week 1 is always an exciting start to the season. "Right now we're 1-2 against them, so I'd like to get that back to .500, but yeah I love playing these kinds of games to see where we're at." Scheduling opponents like Carey early in the season do wonders for a team to see where it is at the beginning of the season and what improvements need to be made. For Brian Colatruglio and his team Friday night, it's an opportunity to go on the road, play in a fantastic atmosphere and see where they're at. With some new players in some key spots, it will be a valuable opportunity. "I like my team. I think we have great veteran leadership and we have good pieces to become a really good football team, so I'm looking forward to Friday to see when it's football being played for real and hopefully the team proves me right. "Carey is such an established program and they have a great coaching staff and they have a system in place, like us, where names may change year to year, but the execution doesn't change or what we expect out of our teams. It's a tremendous Week 1 game for both of us, for both communities and I'm excited to be a part of it. You know, playing over there in Week 1, we'll find out right away if we're ready to play because that's one of the toughest places to play in northwest Ohio. We do have two sophomore quarterbacks that have not played in that type of environment, so they will just have to revert to their training and trust in our game plan and execute. If they do that, along with the other guys on the field, we'll look up at the scoreboard at the end of the game and see how we did." Monroeville at Lakota Last year: Monroeville, 27-7. Outlook: Ryan Lozier, 23, makes his coaching debut Friday when Lakota welcomes in a much-improved Monroeville squad. "Leading up to my head coaching debut has probably thrown 100 different emotions at me," Lozier said. "This has been a dream since I could walk and talk and followed my dad around at Sandusky St. Mary. I am excited to get the opportunity as well as thankful to be put in this position at such a young age... I'm thankful for the people in my corner who back me as well as the great staff alongside me." Monroeville was losers of 15 in a row entering last year's season-opening meeting when it handled Lakota, 27-7. The Eagles progressed and finished 7-3 in the regular season, appearing in the playoffs. "There are many keys for us to have to do Friday night in order to get a win," Lozier said. "Monroeville is a well-balanced, disciplined football team. They are fast and physical and play the game right. Coach (Tylor) Nester over the last few years has taken this team to a team that can win week in and week out. We know were going to have to play four quarters of quality football to be in a position in the fourth quarter to win." The Raiders will be led by quarterback Jalen Wagner, who completed 95-of-162 passes last year for 1,423 yards. Avery Shilling is the top receiver after catching 28 passes for 448 yards and three scores last season. Lozier said Lakota will be a running back by committee until someone breaks through to take the reins. "The trenches are huge every game, but even more so Week 1," Lozier said. "When the lights come on for the first time, you never know how each person will react and it's important to win up front on both sides. It makes things easier when you do this while everyone is still feeling out that first Friday night. You win and lose games up front." Lozier was the quarterback in 2019 when Clyde won the Division IV state championship. Lakota has made the playoffs three out of the last four years, but looks for that elusive first playoff win in school history. "Monroeville does many things well, but anyone you ask knows you have to stop (Evan) Benfer from making too many plays," said Lozier of the Division VII Defensive Player of the Year in Ohio last year. "He's a great athlete that can run and throw so our defense will have to be ready to go. They have a nice running back along with him that will be a good 1-2 punch. Defensively, their front four are pretty solid. They fire off the ball and are physical. We know that going in and I look for our guys to respond to this."