GLIDDEN — The St. Edmond football team enters a new year looking to ride the momentum created last season.

Up first for the Gaels (0-0 overall) will be a trip here to take on Glidden-Ralston in eight-player action Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

St. Edmond won five games and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2000 under head coach Matt Dillon, who has over 200 career wins in 40-plus seasons on the sidelines.

Ethan Swisher returns at quarterback for his second season directing the offense. The senior threw for over 1,100 yards with 15 touchdowns, and has both his leading rusher and wide receiver back.

Junior Aaron Hindt racked up a team-leading 764 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 7.5 per carry. Senior Grant Galles caught 31 passes for nearly 500 yards and six touchdowns, after posting 46 receptions for 867 yards and 13 TDs as a sophomore.

They are joined by seniors Kinnick Henning, Jakob Koopman and all-stater Koleman Hanson. Senior Max Webster, who suffered an injury last year, continues to recover from an injury suffered late last season.

“We feel like we can really take advantage of the weapons we have on offense,” Dillon said. “We’re going to move guys around to try and put them in the best position possible to make plays.

“In (eight-player football), it’s all about creating those mismatches with the defense.”

For the Gaels on defense, Hanson returns after recording 10 tackles for loss and two sacks. Koopman recorded 45 tackles with five interceptions, Galles had 30.5 stops and Hindt finished with 21.5.

Galles and Hanson will also be key pieces on special teams, as Galles had four kickoff returns for touchdowns and Hanson had 45 touchbacks on 60 kickoffs with 15 made extra-points attempts.

“Both Grant and Koleman are difference makers with what they provide in the return game and kicking game,” Dillon said. “We saw it last year several times.”

Glidden-Ralston (0-0) finished last year 3-5 overall, including a season-ending 26-12 loss to St. Edmond. They are replacing quarterback Colby Wallace, who ran for over 1,200 yards and scored 23 touchdowns, but return leading receiver Dawson Majerus, Alex Daniel and Colton Rohrbeck.

The Wildcats won the only other meeting between the two, claiming a 62-16 victory in the 2023 regular season finale. Glidden-Ralston made the playoffs that year, finishing 6-3 for its first winning record since 2018.

“It’s tough to know what to expect because of all the losses they had through graduation,” Dillon said. “But we’ll be ready to go no matter what.

“Our guys are excited to get out there and hit somebody else.”