Kickoff for all games is 7 p.m.

Baldwin at Gardner-Edgerton

Last year’s records: Baldwin 9-2, Gardner-Edgerton 6-4

Last year’s meeting: Baldwin won 34-7

Quick hits: The bad news for Baldwin coach Mike Berg was the graduation of 16 seniors from the first Bulldog squad to win the Frontier League’s Big 5 title since 1991. The good news is Baldwin returns most of its skill players on offense, including quarterback Jeremy Wright and tailback Klay Garrison, who averaged better than six yards per carry in 2004. The Bulldogs’ bid for a repeat title will come under fire immediately, as Gardner-Edgerton – the largest of three 5A schools in the Big 5 – seeks to avenge its lone league loss from a year ago with the added luxury of playing on its home turf.

De Soto at Osawatomie

Last year’s records: De Soto 7-3, Osawatomie 6-3

Last year’s meeting: De Soto won 35-22

Quick hits: Last year’s Week 1 slugfest proved to be a sign of things to come, as De Soto and Osawatomie went on to share the Frontier League’s Small 5 title. Wildcat coach Brad Scott feels he has the pieces in place for a more balanced offensive attack in 2005, but the running game should still dominate, with 6-foot-1, 310-pound lineman Pat Burton – a four-year starter – clearing the path up front. To win the opening-night rematch, De Soto must overcome the loss of defensive end Taylor Burnett, the school’s career sacks leader who will miss at least the first two weeks while recovering from a broken collarbone suffered during the 7-on-7 summer season.

Horton at McLouth

Last year’s records: Horton 1-8, McLouth 4-5

Last year’s meeting: McLouth won 20-8

Quick hits: After dropping 20 straight games bridging the 2001-03 campaigns, McLouth opened plenty of eyes with its season-opening victory last fall on the road at Horton. It proved to be the first step in a turnaround that saw coach Harry Hester’s Bulldogs fall just a missed field goal short of their first winning season since 1998. Senior tailback Kevin Stewart, a four-year starter and Kansas’ fourth leading returning rusher in yards per game, will lead a senior-laden offense against a young Horton squad that features just seven upperclassmen.

Kansas City Turner at Mill Valley

Last year’s records: Turner 6-5, Mill Valley 6-4

Last year’s meeting: Turner won 28-21

Quick hits: A season-opening setback at the hands of Turner didn’t derail Mill Valley, which rebounded to finish 5-0 in the Kaw Valley League and ultimately advanced to the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. The Jaguars will be inexperienced in the backfield, and will count on junior quarterback Trey Scott to spark the offense. Last season’s Week 1 showdown proved to be an offensive shootout, and Turner is expected to be strong once again at the skill positions.

Oskaloosa at Troy

Last year’s records: Oskaloosa 0-9, Troy 10-2

Last year’s meeting: Troy won 53-6

Quick hits: In an effort to jump-start a program that’s won just once in its last 22 outings, Oskaloosa has asked its principal, Brad Reed, to take on a unique double-duty role. After 15 years away from the sidelines, Reed, a former prep coach in Kansas and Arizona, agreed to take over as the Bears’ head football coach. A promising early sign was the turnout of 39 players for this year’s team – nearly double the size of last year’s roster. However, the fruits of Reed’s labors may not be seen for two more years, as the Bears will depend heavily on sophomores, including quarterback Brock McGinnis. The youngsters will face a stiff opening test tonight against a Troy squad that advanced to last year’s Class 2A sectional playoffs.

Spring Hill at Ottawa

Last year’s records: Spring Hill 0-9, Ottawa 4-5

Last year’s meeting: Ottawa won 30-13

Quick hits: After a season-opening victory at Spring Hill followed by an overtime victory against Kansas City Turner, the momentum suddenly disappeared as Ottawa alternated losses with wins the next four weeks before dropping three straight district games to close out the season. The Cyclones will once again hope for a fast start, but this season hope to improve their standing in the Frontier League’s Big 5 division.

Perry-Lecompton at Immaculata

Last year’s records: Perry-Lecompton 3-6, Immaculata 6-4

Last year’s meeting: Perry-Lecompton won 28-12

Quick hits: Perry-Lecompton coach Mike Paramore has high expectations thanks to an experienced squad that will count on the leadership of 15 seniors, many of whom played big minutes the last two seasons as the Kaws battled the injury bug. The go-to performer on both sides of the ball is senior Sean Blosser, who nabbed all-Kaw Valley League honors at both fullback and linebacker. He’ll be joined in the offensive backfield by senior tailback Cory McPherson, who rushed for over 700 yards in 2004. The schedule doesn’t do Perry-Lecompton any favors, as the Kaws open with three straight road trips, including tonight’s trip to Leavenworth to face an Immaculata squad hit hard by graduation during the offseason.

Santa Fe Trail at Kansas City Piper

Last year’s records: Santa Fe Trail 2-7, Piper 3-6

Last year’s meeting: Piper won 15-0

Quick hits: After playing a stable of youngsters during his first two years at the helm, Santa Fe Trail coach Dave Watkins is looking for big improvement this fall. The Chargers are loaded with speed and experience at the skill positions, and Watkins expects the senior triumvirate of halfback Aaron Beatty, fullback Chris Sadler and wide receiver Shawn Conklin to help put an end to the consistency problems that have plagued the program on that side of the football. However, it’s the defense that will come under the most scrutiny in Week 1, as the Chargers must find a way to slow down Piper’s wide-open, pass-happy attack.

Tonganoxie at Lansing

Last year’s records: Tonganoxie 9-2, Lansing 8-3

Last year’s meeting: Tonganoxie won 26-8

Quick hits: It’s no secret Tonganoxie coach Mark Elston likes to run the football, and he has a nice building block for success with four returning starters in the trenches. Offensive linemen Phil George, Aaron Adcox and Jeff Frank are back, as is tight end Thomas Hopkins, and they’ll be counted on to blow open holes for the unproven backs who will fill out the Chieftains’ wishbone set. Tonganoxie also should be strong against the run, with senior defensive tackle Kent Fleming – an honorable-mention all-state pick – leading a group of four returning starters. The Chieftains face a big test tonight, squaring off against a Lansing squad that returns 20 seniors from a team that started 0-2 last season before reeling off eight straight victories.

Veritas Christian at Wichita Sunrise Academy

Last year’s records: Veritas Christian 7-3, Wichita Sunrise Academy 0-7

Last year’s meeting: Veritas Christian won 40-19

Quick hits: Veritas Christian didn’t waste any time proving itself in the eight-man ranks as a rookie, and a roster that includes all but two players from last year’s team has coach Doug Bennett excited about what might unfold in Year 2. The Eagles are a rarity in the eight-man game, a team that’s comfortable both running the football and putting it in the air. The workhorse is running back Jesse Schultz, who rushed for over 1,400 yards and 22 touchdowns last fall. Bennett has spent much of the last practice week cautioning against overconfidence in tonight’s season opener against a Sunrise Academy squad that stumbled badly last season during a rebuilding year but typically ranks as one of the top eight-man teams in the state.