Sports

Football Preview: Solon Takes On Shaker Heights in Season Opener

The Solon Comets and Shaker Heights Red Raiders open the high school football season tonight at Stewart Field in Solon.

It's opening weekend in the 2012 football season!

First up is the Solon Comets versus the Shaker Heights Red Raiders. Here's five things you need to know about the Week 1 matchup.

1. Game Time: 7 p.m. Friday. The game will be played at Stewart Field at .

Find out what's happening in Solonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

2. Matchup History: This is the ninth meeting between the Comets and the Raiders, and Solon is 8-0. . It's a non-conference game.

3. Starting Out Strong: The first game of the year sets the tone for the season, and both squads want to start with a win.

Find out what's happening in Solonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

β€œWe need to start out on a high note Friday night to set the tone for this season,” said Solon Coach Jim McQuaide. β€œWe know Shaker is as fired up as we are to get the season underway and we need to do what we do best, running and hitting, in order to be successful."

Shaker Heights Coach Jarvis Gibson said . He said they have as much talent as a team like Solon, but need to play smart on the field.

"Our motto this year is we have to finish the job," Gibson said.

4. Players to Watch: For Shaker, it's the massive Donovan Munger. The 6-foot-4, 290 pound offensive tackle has received offers from colleges across the country, including Ohio State. Also keep an eye on new quarterback Jimmie Pope, a senior, who dominated junior varsity games last season.

For Solon, keep an eye on Darian Hicks, who can score from anywhere on the field. Last season against Shaker . Also watch Drew Barksdale, another electric player who will inherit most of the quarterback snaps from departed senior Patrick Kramer.

5. Follow Patch Live: Solon Patch will be there covering the game in real-time. If you can't make it, get instant updates via Twitter and quarterly updates on Facebook.


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