Justin Sciarra begins his first full season at starting quarterback, but got plenty of on-the-job training last year when Austin Heyworth was injured.
The Apaches are led by quarterback Garrett Tuck and running back Todd Golper, who rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns against Monrovia.
Arcadia forced four turnovers against the Wildcats and its special teams accounted for 21 points.
Alhambra at Glendale (7 p.m. Friday): Even though six wins and a trip to the playoffs separated the two programs by the end of the 2007 season, just nine points stood between the Moors and Nitros after Alhambra’s 25-16 victory to open the campaign.
It was one of the closer margins of defeat on the year for a Nitros team that was held winless until a 35-7 victory over Hoover in the final game of the season.
Glendale will once again be out to prove this is a winnable game, as second-year Coach Rafik Thorossian continues in his efforts to rebuild the program after going 1-8-1 last season.
Hoover vs. Golden Valley at Canyon High (7 p.m. Friday): New Tornadoes Coach Chris Long has revamped much of the program, all with the hope of instilling a winning attitude.
That’s something the team could use, coming off two previous seasons, including last year’s 0-10 showing, that produced one combined win.
Under Long, the Tornadoes will be running a spread offense and will focus on self-discipline — they had 13 penalties in last year’s meeting with the Grizzlies — and narrowing the turnover margin as points of emphasis.
Golden Valley, which runs a wide-open passing attack itself, defeated Hoover, 42-7, in both teams’ 2007 opener.
The Grizzlies are 0-1 on the season following a 28-8 loss to Littlerock on Thursday.
Flintridge Prep vs. St Genevieve at L.A. Poly (7 p.m. Saturday): With a resurgent 2007 season and a current No. 4 ranking in the CIF Southern Section Northeast Division under their belts, the Rebels come into their season opener with high expectations.
St. Genevieve is coming off a 3-6 2007 campaign, but returns 13 seniors and enters Saturday’s contest 1-0 after narrowly edging West Adams, 37-36, on Friday.
The Valiants replace Bellarmine-Jefferson on the Rebels’ nonleague schedule, a team which defeated St. Genevieve, 56-7, last year. Prep beat Bell-Jeff, 21-14, in the teams’ last meeting.
GABRIEL RIZK covers sports. He can be reached at (818) 637-3226 or at gabriel.rizk@latimes.com.
