Seneca Valley's competition among Quad County foes figures to be stiff this season, but the team doesn't have to wait for conference play to face a formidable opponent.

SV opens the 2021 season at home Friday against a very talented Moon squad. It will be the first meeting on the gridiron between the two schools since 1989.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at NexTier Stadium.

The Tigers, who reside in Class 5A's Allegheny Six Conference, are coming off a 4-3 season, but have lofty expectations.

“From what I saw on tape, they are a big and physical team,” SV coach Ron Butschle said. “They have a lot of experience with returning guys and I expect them to be one of the top teams in 5A.”

While Moon has many impactful players, the list begins with senior linemen Jake Baumgartner (6-foot-0, 250 pounds) and Trent Fraley (6-3, 290). A center and right tackle, respectively, on offense, both also anchor the defensive line as tackles.

Baumgartner is a four-year starter while Fraley, a Marshall University recruit, will be starting for the third straight season.

“Jake gets everybody in line and makes all of our protection calls on offense,” said fifth-year Moon coach Ryan Linn. “Trent has great technique and has a nice mean streak to him, in a good way.”

Also playing on the defensive line is end Ben Bladel (6-0, 225), another four-year starter.

The trio, along with a strong supporting cast at linebacker, will present a major challenge to SV's offense.

“We lack a lot of experience up front and they are probably going to pin their ears back and come after us,” Butschle said.

“Our advantage lies with our skill guys and we need to get the ball to them on the outside.”

SV junior quarterback Graham Hancox, who will be making just his second career start, will be tasked with that responsibility within the team's up-tempo attack.

“He has always had the tools, just needed some refining. He's progressed well during the off-season,” Butschle said. “He doesn't play defense, so he has been able to spend extra time with our offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, Ryan Lehmeier.”

Moon needs to replace several key players in its secondary, so throwing the football could prove to be SV's clearest path to sustaining drives and finding the end zone.

Hancox will have no shortage of capable targets to get the ball to. Receivers Luke Lawson, Brandon Ross, Aiden Lyczek, Kai West, Chris D'Appalonia and Nick Hemer could all get opportunities for big gains.

“Their skill kids are huge. Every one of their receivers is about 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds,” Linn said. “I'd love to know what's in the water up there.

“We're thankful that we're playing them early in the season.”

Running backs Tyler Yurich and Nolan Dworek could also figure into the passing game for SV. The latter paced the team in rushing yards last season with 447.

Moon's offense will be led by senior quarterback Tyler McGowan, who passed for 969 yards and five TDs in a shortened 2020 season.

Senior running back Dylan Sleva (6-3, 225) will test SV's defense. Butschle described him as an “aggressive and tough runner.”

SV's defensive front will include a rotation of several players, including Lucas Lambert, Lyczek, Devin Webb, Owen Moran and Alex Paulsen.