SCHOLASTIC FOOTBALL: Opening weekend arrives for area teams

KINGSTON >> After three weeks of intense practice and hard work, it finally comes down to this for area high school football team: opening weekend.

Area teams play in six games tonight and three more Saturday afternoon.

Roosevelt plays at Poughkeepsie at 6 p.m., while Wallkill travels to Pine Bush, New Paltz goes to Washingtonville, Highland is home to John S. Burke Catholic, Ellenville entertains Spackenkill and Pine Plains heads to Eldred, all in 7 p.m. starts.

On Saturday, Marlboro opens at Dover, Rondout Valley is home to Saugerties and Red Hook will host James I. O’Neill in 1:30 p.m. starts.

Roosevelt at Poughkeepsie

Roosevelt lost 22 seniors from the 2014 club and are lookiing to start the year on the right foot. The Presidents have a strong backfield with Nick DiCarlo and Kemyero King back. They go against a Poughkeepsie team that went 1-7 last year in its debut in Section 9. The Pioneers boast 10 returning starters.

Wallkill at Pine Bush

Junior quarterback A.J. Dembroski leads a big group of talented Wallkill players. The Panthers’ first test is a Pine Bush squad which returns its entire defensive line. This is, however, a Bushmen D that allowed 367 points last year.

New Paltz at Washingtonville

The Huguenots, behind new quarterback Jimmy Verney, get a physical test against non-league Class AA foe Washingtonville. The Wizards’ four losses last year were by seven points or less.

Burke at Highland

It’s a new-look Highland – 18 starters gone and running back Isiah Daubon takes over at quarterback – that debuts at home. The Huskies start right where they left off: facing a Burke team that knocked off Highland 30-8 in last year’s Class B semifinals. Rushing quarterback Matt Przybocki is gone, but a veteran line is back to protect junior passer Austin Londo.

Spackenkill at Ellenville

It’s a matchup of Class B non-divisional foes that both went 1-7 in ’14. Spackenkill’s third-year starters will tangle with an Ellenville squad that’s in a second year of head coach Dan Cavanagh’s new system.

Pine Plains at Eldred

Pine Plains moves from Class D up to B with an influx of Rhinebeck players. So, ironically, the Bombers’ first opponent is an old Class D rival in Eldred, which was 2-6 last year, including a loss to Pine Plains.

Saturday

Marlboro at Dover

With Rob Papuli and Mike Panio no longer anchoring the defensive line and middle linebacker Ryan Greaven also graduating, Marlboro’s refashioned defense gets its first big test with a Class B non-divisional game at Dover. The Dragons’ offense features quarterback Ethan Lounsbury and running back Jaquon Futrell. Dover, meanwhile, will try to contain Marlboro’s ground game led by Rino Tamburri.

Saugerties at Rondout

Rondout’s talented team makes its debut against a Saugerties unit looking to get off on the right track. The Sawyers have their third new coach and system in as many years. New mentor Dominic Zarrella’s scheme is one the kids played on lower levels, so the learning curve should be shorter.

O’Neill at Red Hook

A really good matchup. Both teams were 3-5 last year and have plenty of key players returning. The Raiders’ size could be a factor.