Knoch is headed into the city —and will face one of the biggest bullies on the block.

The Knights open the 2010 football season with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against perennial City League power Brashear at Cupples Stadium on Pittsburgh's South Side.

"I don't know the last time Knoch's played a City League team in the regular season," Knoch coach Mike King said. "I've been coaching here since 1992 and it hasn't been since then."

Knoch and Brashear have scrimmaged each other the past couple of years.

"We've had a good relationship with them," third-year Brashear coach Rick Murphy said. "We were both looking for a first game this year, so we got together."

The Bulls were 7-3 last season, losing to Schenley in the City League semifinals. It marked the first time in five years that Brashear didn't reach the City League title game.

The team won City League championships in 2007 and 2008.

"To get to where you want to be, you have to play the best," King said. "Playing tough opponents early helps us get ready for conference play."

Brashear returns seven starters offensively, including second and third-leading receivers Manny Reed and Jamil Smith. Last year's top receiver, Manasseh Garner, is playing at Wisconsin in the Big Ten.

Last year's leading rusher, Bruce Patterson, moved on to Clarion University. Three backs — Tre Gains, Joell Nesbit and Jawanz Bryant — will run the ball this year.

Adam Lynch replaces All-City League quarterback and 1,200-yard passer Henri Chatman.

"We've got athletes and we can throw the ball well. But we want to run it first," Murphy said.

Knoch is coming off solid scrimmages against Burrell and Franklin Regional. The Knights return their top two rushers in Adam Tuzikow and Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin, along with quarterback Ky Kenyon.

This is the first meeting between the two teams since they met in the District 10 Class AA championship game in Novemember of 2008. The Greyhounds won 21-14 in overtime on the way to the state title that season. ... This Wilmington team will look a lot different. The only holdover is senior running back Sutton Whiting, who rushed for 1,214 yards and 20 touchdowns last season as the Greyhounds reached the PIAA Class AA semifinals.Highlands at Freeport 7:30 p.m., FridayThe Golden Rams will try to rebound from a rough 2009 when they went 1-9 and were blanked four times, this after recording 11 wins the year before ... Highlands does have top rusher Gary Negley returning. Last year, Negley rushed for more than 960 yards on 175 carries ... The Rams are coached by former Freeport and Butler head coach Sam Albert ... The Yellowjackets are coming off a co-Allegheny Conference championship last season with Shady Side Academy. and made its second consecutive WPIAL Class AA playoff appearance.

Mars' starting backfield will include four seniors — Eric Guzak at quarterback, Austin Miele at fullback and both Seth Geyer and Josh Pinkerton at the two wingback positions ... As a junior, Guzak threw for 328 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions ... Miele is in search of his third-straight 1,000-yard season and ranks sixth on the Planets' all-time rushing list ... Geyer rushed for 319 yards and four touchdowns in 2009 ... Since defeating Elizabeth Forward in the final game of the 2007 season, Moon has lost 18 consecutive games ... This will be the third straight season the two teams have opened against each other, with Mars winning in 2008 (35-0) and 2009 (24-7).

The Bulldogs, who qualified for the District 9 Class A playoffs last season with a 3-6 mark, return just three starters ... Brandon Bain returns at quarterback, where he threw for 831 yards and nine touchdowns ... Caleb Delp returns to anchor the defense as he registered 50 tackles and three sacks ... Union's Trent Corle and Taylor Smith return at quarterback and running back/receiver, respectively. .

The Falcons will run a mix on offense, featuring plays from the Spread Wing-T and I-formation ... After tallying a 38-35 record as head coach of Clarion-Limestone from 2003-09, Todd Smith is now an assistant at Clarion High ... Jason Kundick is now head coach of the Lions ... C-L defeated A-C Valley last season, 46-6.

Last season, a 22-19 double overtime loss by East against Grove City early in the season ultimately cost the Warriors a playoff spot. East finished 5-4 after posting a 1-28 record in its previous three seasons. ... Grove City returns a three-year starter at quarterback in Tyler Dagres and is deep at the skill positions a season after reaching the District 10 Class AAA title game.

Schenley captured the Pittsburgh City League championship last year in double overtime against Oliver ... The Spartans (10-2) return quarterback De'Andre Black and his 11 touchdowns ... He is expected to be moved all around the backfield, paving the way for Calvin Beck at quarterback ... The Knights are coming off consecutive two-win seasons and have been very competitive in the rugged Allegheny Conference.