Week 1: THE RIVALRY

Well... It's time for THE RIVALRY!!! And its only WEEK ONE!!!!!

It sure has been weird this week. Usually there is a buildup for this game. Usually there is all kind of pressure and fun and commraderie leading up to this game. But lets face it. Its Week ONE!!!

The Blue Devils have been in school just three days. The Vikes don't have class until Tuesday!

So here we are. The most important game of the season, and its in the first week.

This is the first time that Old Forge and Riverside will open the season facing each other. It is not the first time the game will be played during the summer. The game has been played in September before. But it has to be at least 50 years since that has happened.

The Vikes have won 4 of 5, including last season's 42-14 defeat in Old Forge. The game is in Taylor tonight, and Riverside is ranked No. 2 in the state by the Patriot News in Class 1A. That's right. The Vikes and Blue Devils could also meet in the D2 playoffs this season.

But before we get to November, let's take care of August.

Riverside features the best running back in the area in Joe Klebon. Klebon, a senior, is within the 4,000 yard mark in rushing yards and should eclipse that total by Week 7. Klebon is a combination back in that he can run you over but he can also run around you. Some of the cuts he made last season were truly unbelievable.

Klebon is not the Vikes sole weapon though. Matt Talerico is someone who could destroy the competition this season. If teams concentrate on stopping Klebon, Talerico will have a party with opposing defenses. The senior slotback/receiver is nasty fast. He is what Lee Corso would call a burner. Riverside will use him on screen plays to get him in the open space and let him do his work.

The Vikes also have quarterback Jay Velehoski and tight end Kevin Sochovka as part of an offensive arsenal that may go unmatched this season. Velehoski is a lefty QB that can fling it and can also run it while Sochovka is a brutal blocker and even a better pass catcher.

The Blue Devils sure will have their handsful on defense, but that's how Mike Scuback's group likes to be challenged.

Anthony Pero and Jon Kaville led the Big Blue Wrecking Crew from their linebacker positions. Pero led Old Forge with 140 tackles last season and the duo put some big hits on their counterparts up the road causing some drops in the passing game and also in the running game.

The ILB duo will line up behind behemoth defensive tackle Kyle Holland and the athletic Mark Zambetti, and ends Ed Dolinish and AJ Grasso as they try to stop the vaunted RV rushing attack.

The secondary will also have their work cut out for them with the Vikes likely to toss the pigskin under the direction of former Viking and current coach Harry Armstrong. But seniors Dustin Slack and Bobby Vieira and junior Brian Morris are all ready to do their part.

Morris gets the call dotting the I-formation in the running game and burst onto the OF-RV scene with a 70-yard TD in the first quarter last season as he rushed for 134 yards on the night. Kaville is the lead blocker at FB and can also run and catch the ball out of the backfield.

Corey Hodick will hand the ball to Morris from the QB position, and will also look to pick apart a young RV pass defense with tosses to Gabe Wilson, Vieira and Slack.

My prediction for this game is one of an upset. I like the Blue Devils 29-27 with Matt Rava kicking the game-winner from 33 yards out. It will not be an easy game to win, and the Blue Devils have to do all the right things to win. But I think the Vikes could be looking past Old Forge, and will not be as sharp as they will by the time midseason rolls around.