Karns City coach Ed Conto would prefer to have a strong non-conference opponent to kick off the season.

Instead, he has a Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference Large battle on the road at St. Marys with a young and inexperienced team Friday night.

“It's a conference game and we have a whole new squad,” Conto said. “We have only seven seniors.

“I don't know what we have because I like to play a lot of kids and it takes three or four weeks to see what we have,” Conto added.

Running back Glenn Toy, who tore his ACL the week before camp, will make a move to fullback soon and wear a special brace and postpone surgery until after the season.

He led the Gremlins with 1,377 yards and 15 touchdowns last year.

“It's completely torn but if his leg is strong enough, then he wants to do it,” Conto said.

“It'll limit his mobility but he'll have enough to go,” Conto said. “We just pray the brace will hold up.”

Trying to shoulder the bulk of the rushing chores this season will be juniors Wyatt Everetts and Zach Moore and sophomore Tristan Rhoades.

“We think all three will be good football players,” Conto said.

Speaking of running backs, the Dutchmen boast a very strong one in 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior Cody Baker.

Last season, Baker rushed for 1,284 yards on just 196 carries (6.5 yards per attempt) and 15 touchdowns.

After opening the season at 4-0 and winning five of its first six games, St. Marys dropped the final four games, including a 33-21 loss to the Gremlins.

Baker still shined, ringing up 101 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns.

“St. Marys has a big line and (Baker) is a pretty decent runner,” Conto said. “They run the wing-T. They've been doing it for years, so they know what to do.

“They run a 3-5 defense since we've seen them, but we've seen a 4-4 too.

“We have question marks going into the season. We just have to prepare for them the best we can,” Conto added.

Freeport at Kittanning 7:30 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Freeport, John Gaillot; Kittanning, Frank Fabian

Last year: Freeport, 7-3; Kittanning, 1-8

The numbers: Kittanning is coming of its second consecutive one-win season. ... The Wildcats lost their top passer, rusher and receiver to graduation, including 1,000-yard passer Trevor Harmon. ... Brendan Lynch returns at quarterback for Freeport as a three-year starter. He passed for 596 yards and rushed for 432 yards and had his hand in 14 touchdowns. Damon Smith rushed for nearly 1,400 yards and added 18 more scores. ... Freeport surrendered just 80 points during the regular season before a 33-26 loss to Ellwood City in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs.

Notes: Fabian served as Redbank Valley's head coach the past two years. ... Kittanning, which averaged 15.2 points per game last year, drops down from Class AAA to Class AA.

Moniteau at Sharpsville 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Moniteau, Jeff Campbell; Sharpsville, Paul Piccirilli

Last year: Moniteau 12-1; Sharpsville 13-1

The numbers: Sharpsville senior Joey Flynn racked up 592 rushing yards and 412 receiving yards for 19 total touchdowns in 2011. ... Senior Tyler Luchey led the Blue Devils in receiving a season ago with 27 catches for 458 yards and eight scores. ... Moniteau returns junior running back Dustin Geagan, who rushed for 1,540 yards and 16 TDs last year. ... Andrew Armagost, a senior, recorded 21 sacks and led the Warriors in tackles (119) last season.

Notes: Moniteau is the defending District 9 Class AA champion, while Sharpsville owns the District 10 Class A title. ... Both teams will have new quarterbacks under center in 2012. ... Sharpsville has a record of 33-6 over the past three years.

Slippery Rock at Brashear 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Slippery Rock, Brendan Hathaway; Brashear, Rick Murphy

Last year: Slippery Rock 7-4; Brashear 7-3

The numbers: The Bulls lost a few of their potent weapons that led them to the City League playoffs last season. Brashear does have WR Jamal Smith back. Smith caught 11 passes for 228 yards last year. ... The Bulls also have LBs DeShawn Roberts and Diandre Faulk in the fold. The duo combined for 10 tackles per game in 2011. ... The Rockets have looked strong in scrimmages. ... Slippery Rock added a few wrinkles to its flexbone offense, but senior RB Jeff Croll will be a key part of the running game. Croll rushed for 509 yards and four TDs last season. ... QB Ryan Currie led the team with 757 yards and 11 TDs on the ground in 2011.

Notes: Brashear has 15 players on the roster who played for Langley last season.

Carrick at Grove City 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Carrick, Jeff McCafferty; Grove City, Jeff Bell

Last year: Carrick 1-9; Grove City 11-1

The numbers: The Raiders went from 3-6 in 2009 to 2-8 in 2010 and then 1-9 last year. ... Carrick's last non-losing season was in 2003 when the Raiders went 5-5. ... There is optimism this season for Carrick, which has potent offensive weapons in WR Orlando Harvard and RB Joe Kalsek. ... Grove City is battling a preseason injury bug. OL Shaun Smoker, who is 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds, is out with a shoulder injury. RB Foster Reznor, who averaged nearly 10 yards per carry last season, is nursing a toe injury.

Notes: GC sophomore QB Jared Graham looked strong in scrimmages. ... Carrick's 6-foot, 300-pound sophomore OL/DL Josh Walker was an All-City League selection last season.

A-C Valley at Union 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: A-C Valley, Brad Dittman; Union, Dave Louder

Last year: A-C Valley 2-7; Union 7-4

The numbers: The Falcons' leading rusher from last year was sophomore Mike Suto, who rushed for 389 yards. Now a 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior, Suto again figures to be a key to the team's ground attack. ... Union senior Brody Shick steps under center after rushing for 89 yards and tallying 148 receiving yards last season.

Notes: A-C Valley's last Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference win was a 26-13 decision over Union Oct. 7, 2005. ... The Golden Knights have won six straight in the series, including last year's 49-0 victory.

East Allegheny at Summit Academy 12:30 p.m., Saturday

Coaches: East Allegheny, Jason Ruscitto; Summit Academy, Steve Sherer

Last year: East Allegheny 5-5; Summit Academy 3-6

The numbers: Wildcats running back Shawn Adair scored 14 touchdowns a year ago. He caught 11 passes but for a robust 42.4 yards per catch. Quarterback Kyle Whipple (849 yards, 12 TDs) also returns.

Notes: Ruscitto was a former head coach at Sto-Rox for six seasons, the final year in 2009 ... The Wildcats qualified for the WPIAL Class AA playoffs last year