Forget the holidays.

This is the most wonderful time of the year.

The high school football season opens Friday and I live for predicting the outcomes of these game.

The only problem I’m facing now is how to make heads or tails out of these local teams. Some lost tons of talent. Some have tons of talent back.

Here’s what I think is going to happen the first week of the season:

• Seneca Valley 21, Butler 17 — The Butler Eagle Travelling Trophy hasn’t travelled much over the last six years. It’s stayed in a nice and comfy case at Seneca Valley High School.

Butler nearly upset the Raiders last season. This year, who knows what will happen in this game? Both teams have lots of new faces.

The Raiders, though, will prevail.

• Knoch 22, Greensburg Salem 10 — The Knights will be running up the gas card with trips to Greensburg, Washington and Hollidaysburg in three of the first four weeks of the season.

The journeys begin in Greensburg, where the Knights also will be breaking in lots of new dudes at lots of positions.

Knoch has a knack of finding the next man up.

Mars 28, Franklin Regional 17 — It’s a shame a game this big happens this soon, but that’s the case. This could very well decide the section title.

The Planets will come out on top.

• Kittanning 15, Freeport 9 — Another team fans will need a program to follow is the Yellowjackets. They are at home to start the season, but the Wildcats are an improving team.

• East Allegheny 31, Summit Academy 21 — The Knights scoff at other schools who have to replace nearly everyone on the roster. They do that every year.

In many cases, Summit Academy may have more people back than some teams this season.

Karns City 37, St. Marys 15 — The Gremlins are one of the few teams with lots back. They have lots of experience, too, because of the rash of injuries last season.

That should bode well this week and beyond.

• Sharpsville 31, Moniteau 16 — If you want to go 100 years in the past and see football the way Pop Warner played it, head over to Cherry Township and check out the Warriors and their double-wing offensive this season.

If anything, Moniteau is going to be fun to watch.

• A-C Valley 13, Union 12 — In the first shocker of the season, the Falcons win their first season-opener since gas was $1.26 a gallon.

Slippery Rock 36, Brashear 19 — This is no easy opener for the Rockets. Brashear is on the rise. It’s a good early test for Slippery Rock.

• Grove City 36, Carrick 6 — The Eagles win another opener, which may not be a good thing. The last time Grove City lost a first game to a season, it went on to play for a state championship.

Scoop is downright giddy for the start of the season.