Glenn County pigskin previews for Aug. 27

Hamilton (0-0) @ Orland (0-0)

Call it the "Rumble in the Glenn" or give it some other creative moniker, but there's no denying that Friday night's season-opener in Orland is going to be a wild one.

This game will literally feature match-ups of neighbors versus neighbors, as the Braves line up across from the Trojans in a naturally occurring rivalry contest.

Hamilton comes in with the pedigree of a 42-8 mark and two Northern Section championships over the past four seasons, while the Trojan program is still trying to prove itself in coach Mike McDonald's second season at the helm.

Across the field from him, Hamilton's Ryan Bentz is beginning his first season as the top man for the Braves.

Hamilton is young, but its offense is led by senior signal-caller Brett Burbank, who completed 66 percent of his passes last season (43-of-65). Zach Swain (596 yards) will have his number called often out of the backfield, with William Rosen and Cody Dietz also carrying the ball behind a junior-dominated offensive line.

Orland's defense, under new defensive coordinator Mike Miller, will look to slow the Braves' multiple formations.

Coach McDonald likes his team speed this season, and running back Jose Huerta (463 yards) is hoping to demonstrate some of it.

Orland's Brandon Smith took some varsity snaps last season, and is sharing time with junior Austin Schmeltzer, who led the Trojan junior-varsity to an undefeated season last year.

Earplugs may be a sound investment, because Orland is going to be rocking on Friday.

Colusa (0-0) @ Willows (0-0)

While the Redskins finished higher last season at 8-5 to Willows' 4-7, both teams earned a taste of the post-season, and will be hungry to feed that appetite with an opening-night victory.

Cyrus Yerxa will be given his first varsity start for Colusa, with Tyler Martin being out with an injury. Coach Randy Watt had hoped to offset the steady Redskins ground game with a little more action in the air, but will ease Yerxa in to that aspect.

The Honkers will need to account for Colusa's Vicente Gutierrez (689 yards) and Anthony Mojica out of the split-back formation, and the 'Skins can also give the ball to Luis Sanchez, David Goodman, Dylan McPherson and Tyler Sterling.

The Redskins' offense was tabbed a "work in progress" by coach Watt, and Willows will call on junior QB Justin Fortunato to test that progress.

Senior backs A.J. Wagenman (587 yards) and Nolan Barnes (251) will both look to inflict damage, and Fortunato also has the two top receivers from last season (Wagenman and Zach Hampel) at his disposal.

Willows had difficulties putting points on the board last season, but will also hope the home field provides some advantage.

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.