Friday night preview

It's opening night of the high school football season, and we're excited to officially kick off high school football 2010 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

We have the opening game of the season -- Mt. Vernon vs. Kokomo in the PeyBack Classic XI at Lucas Oil Stadium. We'll kickoff at 6:00, with Jim Ryan and myself joining you on the pregame show at 5:30 p.m.

Here's a look at the game:
KOKOMO (9-1) vs. MT. VERNON (6-5)
LISTEN LIVE
Friday, August 20, 2010 at Lucas Oil Stadium
Peyback Classic XI

Last season: Kokomo won 34-7. MV rolled off four straight wins afterward. KHS rolled off eight.
The series: Kokomo has won all 3 games – 27-24 in 2007, 43-7 in 2008 and 34-7 in 2009.
MV at Lucas Oil: The Marauders fell to Delta 24-16 last year in Week 8 in a close game.

Scouting the Marauders (Coach Doug Peacock, 17th year, 102-74; 19th overall 122-94)
? Lots of returning starters. 254 rushing yards last year, 311 overall.
? QB Austin Parker , 3-year starter. Zach McKinney also 3-year (fullback). Corey White, Tyler
Dicks at halfbacks. Lots of speed – can both be put in slot. Jake Davis at WR also a 3-year starter.
White emerged as a sophomore last year.
? Lots of returnees on both sides of ball.
? Defense led by David Reimlinger, getting good college looks, and Sam Balbach. Fast and
experienced. Showing 3-4 look with lots of linebackers.
? Starting conference play next week @Yorktown – home opener in 2 weeks vs. Connersville.
? 3 sectionals – 97, 99, 2006, all under Peacock.

Scouting the Wildkats (Coach Brett Colby, 4th year at KHS 26-5; 21st overall 141-72)
? Kokomo has won 17 consecutive regular-season games – last loss came to Coldwater (OH) two
years ago after the MV game. Has won 24 straight r-s games against Indiana competition.
? Brett Colby is 25-2 in the regular season at KHS (1-3 in postseason), has never lost a North
Central Conference game.
? 3 returning starters on offense – all linemen (Cameron Colby, Jake Roberson, Brandon Sheppard)
? Wing-T team – double-tight, foot-to-foot, smashmouth football.
? QB Austin Colby – 6-0, 180 Sr. Junior All-State defensive back last season.
? JV also undefeated last season.
? Graduated Braxton Shelton, state's leading scorer in 2009.
? Offense explosive last year – 48.5 ppg (defense allowed 11.6 points, only 3 teams scored more
than once on them – Marion, Huntington North, FW Snider).
? KHS last sectional championship (and only) 1993.
? At Arlington next week, vs. Muncie Central week 3, home/NCC opener.

Elsewhere in Hancock County
New Palestine (10-3) at Whiteland (5-6): The Dragons' big 2009 started with a 22-16 OT victory over Whiteland. This year, however, the tables are turned a bit, as NP is working in a lot of new faces and Whiteland is experienced. NP has a lot of numbers and a lot of talented skill players -- including returnees Brett Jackson and Austin Cahoy. Whiteland returns the entire starting OL and eight offensive starters overall, so the Warriors will be loaded for bear. RBs Cody Phillips and Drew Smyth had 2,300 yards between them in 2009. Cahoy, Dakota Smith, Jackson and a host of others are talented backs for NP. Expect an exciting games.

New Castle (1-9) at Greenfield-Central (1-9): The Cougars showed some skill in the skill positions last season -- especially with the play of wingback Matt Dickerson and running back/CB Derek Conley, with both QBs Carl Ellison and Tyler Colclaizer returning. New Castle is also rebuilding with new coach Kyle Hall, who takes over after having some success at Shenandoah.

Eastern Hancock (2-8) at Triton Central (6-4): Mark Reddy's third season at EH and the Royals' first in the Mid-Indiana Football Conference shows some promise, with a good finish to the year that nearly capped with an upset of Lapel in the sectional opener. Steven Stunda threw for more than 1,500 yards last season, and is a talented QB who can direct the spread. He has a lot of receivers back -- led by Jake Grass and Keenan Petry. EH's JV won six games last year, too, to provide some strong reinforcements. However, TC is a tough first-game and conference opener. TC has posted five straight winning seasons in a row, but there's a lot of talent back ,led by RB Brad Mohr and QB Lance Stephenson, as well as All-Stater Steven Glackman on the lines.