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The time is now for the St. Edmond football team.
After weeks of practice and preparation, the Gaels (0-0 overall) open the 2022 season here Friday night inside Dodger Stadium vs. Ar-We-Va.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Last year, Ar-We-Va (0-0) welcomed St. Edmond to eight-player football, as the two put on a show, with the Gaels prevailing in overtime, 62-56.
Caleb Schaeffer, one of a handful of returning starters for Matt Dillon and SEHS, accuonted for almost 400 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns. Johnny Dickerson, another returning player, had five receptions for 156 yards and a TD.
The two teams combined for 40 points in the second quarter and 30 in the third.
"It was as close as you can get last year against Ar-We-Va," Dillon said. "This year, we are both pretty young teams with a lot of sophomores and freshmen so you just don't know what to expect.
"But that is always the case going in the first game. You just don't know. You practice against each other and look good, but now you have to prove it in a ballgame."
Schaeffer has transitioned into a wingback role after recording over 1,000 yards from scrimmage as a junior. JT Laufersweiler will get the start at quarterback following a sophomore campaign in which he completed 49 percent of his passes for 535 yards with six touchdowns.
Dickerson tallied 26 receptions for 437 yards with five TDs last year. Sophomores Klay Baker and Sam Myer, along with ninth-grader Kinnick Henning, take over the tailback role following the graduation of Tyler Rossmanith.
"We are going to come out and be aggressive on both sides of the ball," Dillon said. "Hopefully, we can put points on the board early and get some stops on defense and go from there."
St. Edmond returns three starters along the offensive line in seniors Tyler McDowell and John Nemmers, along with sophomore Adam Walker.
McDowell, Nemmers, Walker, Dickerson, Schaeffer and Myer are among the key players on the defensive side of the ball. Nemmers had 46 tackles, with Dickerson and Myer both over 30.
Ar-We-Va finished the season 4-4, earning wins over Glidden-Ralston, River Valley, Siouxland Christian and Boyer Valley. Will Ragaller, Cooper Koch and Braeden Kirsch have graduated
Ragaller accounted for over 2,400 yards of total offense and 35 touchdowns, while Kock had almost 500 yards receiving.
Blayne Smith earned time at quarterback as a freshman, while Wade Ragaller, also a sophomore this season, is back. Ar-We-Va's roster has one senior, two juniors, five sophomores and six freshmen.
"Eight-player is a different game, but it's also still football," Dillon said. "We feel better about the way to go about it on offense, defense and special teams.
"It's exciting to finally get that chance to go out there and compete."