SLIPPERY ROCK — On your mark. Get set. Go.

No, it’s not a platitude.

For the two crews crossing paths at Troy-Alan Stadium Friday night at 7 p.m., the groundwork for the football season was laid on the starting blocks.

Both Slippery Rock and General McLane cheered on standout track and field athletes this past spring. The Lancers’ Lane Marquis was part of a 400-meter relay quartet that competed at the state meet. Jacob Zeitz was a District 10 qualifier in the long jump.

Rockets quarterback Eli Anderson and receiver Sam Schwartz — both seniors — were part of a 1,600-meter relay group that was a state runner-up. They’re hoping the speed translates to the turf.

“I think, sometimes, you’ve got to be creative of how you do things with guys,” Slippery Rock coach Larry Wendereusz said. “We had a period this week that we simply just said, ‘We want to run 10 minutes of those two guys touching the ball every play.’ ... Let’s make sure that Eli or Sam is going to touch the ball on this play.

“We’ve got to put that in our game plan, we’ve got to make sure we have it, and be creative to make sure the ball’s going to end up in their hands.”

General McLane coach Marshall McCormick is also an assistant track coach for the Lancers. He takes notice of the athleticism displayed on the oval.

“I always kind of judge teams on their track team — and I know they have a very good track program down there,” said McCormick, a Freeport graduate. “I know they did lose quite a bit (from) last year ... They’re going to be fast, they’re going to be well-coached, and they’re going to be physical.”

General McLane embarked on a nine-game winning surge and claimed the District 10 Region 5 crown after losing last year’s opener to the Rockets at home by a 37-20 count. They’re kicking off a youth movement after graduating 21 seniors.

“It’s always a good thing to be young, because then you have them for a little while,” McCormick said. “Just about any position you name, we probably lost someone there noteworthy.”

Wendereusz also looks at such a situation in a positive note.

“Any team — no matter what level — they’re always going to go through this at some point,” he said. “You’re always going to be in a situation where you have a large turnover. ... Sometimes, that might mean simplifying what you do.”

On offense, the Lancers will look much different personnel-wise than they did a year ago. Dual-threat quarterback Dylan Sheeder — who passed for over 1,100 yards and ran for 950 more — is gone. As are each of the team’s four leading pass-catchers. All five starting offensive linemen, too.

Magnus Lloyd is the attack’s only returning starter. With his presence, General McLane will use more of a run-first approach within a spread offense.

“He’s a big, 6-foot-1, 200-pound running back who I think could be a great workhorse for us,” McCormick said. “Last year, we didn’t use him quite as much, because we were able to spread the ball around. But, we’re looking to use him, kind of ground and pound.”

The Rockets were missing their top four running backs in their scrimmage against Freeport on Saturday. Sophomore Owen Long impressed with the carries he was granted, junior Aiden Corace will be back in the mix on Friday, and Cooper Alleman will likely start on both sides, at tailback and linebacker.

“You want to limit the big plays,” McCormick said. “And any time you have speed, you have the ability to do that. Definitely, a top priority for us is not letting Anderson get going. Put him in some uncomfortable situations and hopefully he’s not able to use his speed to hurt us.”

Lloyd and Ian Salisbury are back in linebacker spots for the Lancers. That tandem combined for 98 take-downs in 2022. Jacob Zietz, a junior defensive back, had four picks as a sophomore.

Montour at Mars

7 p.m., Friday

Montour went 7-5 last year, its season ending with a WPIAL Class 4A playoff loss to Aliquippa. ... Mars went 6-5, losing to McKeesport in the WPIAL playoffs.

The Spartans return 7 starters on offense and 7 on defense. Returning WR Daniel Batch caught 26 passes last year worth 653 yards and 8 TDs.

Mars has its own established threat on the outside. As a freshman in 2022, Gabe Hein pulled in 36 passes for 551 yards and 7 scores.

Mars defeated Montour last year, 34-26.

Serra Catholic at North Catholic

J.C. Stone Field

7 p.m., Friday

Serra was 7-1 last year before dropping its final 3 games, including a WPIAL playoff loss to Washington. ... North Catholic missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons and finished 5-5.

As a sophomore last year, Serra QB Quadir Stribling passed for 1,435 yards, 12 TDs and 10 INTs.

North's summer camp featured 2 players vying to start at QB — seniors Jason Siket and Kaden Sarver. First-year North head coach Chris Rizzo could not be reached for comment regarding who will start Friday.

North defeated the Eagles last year, 37-14.

Union/A-C Valley at Cameron County

7 p.m., Friday

Union/A-C Valley is coming off a 5-6 season, including a District 9 Class A quarterfinal playoff loss to Keystone. ... Cameron County missed the playoffs in 2022 with a 4-6 record.

First-year Falcon Knights head coach Dan Reed has decided that senior Brody Dittman and junior Owen Bish will both see time at quarterback Friday night. The two had battled in camp for the starting spot and Reed said if one separates himself early in the season, he will earn the job full-time. Last year, Dittman passed for 855 yards, 5 TDs and 12 INTs while Bish put up 271 yards, 3 TDs and 3 INTs. Both QBs are also threats on the ground.

Union/A-C Valley defeated Cameron County, 27-14, in last year's opener.

St. Marys at Moniteau

7 p.m., Friday

Moniteau posted a 2-8 record last year, with their only wins coming against Cameron County and a Bradford crew that hasn’t won a game since 2019. ... St. Marys went 7-4 and reached the District 9 Class 3A finals, where it lost to Clearfield.

The Warriors are projected to rely on senior running back-linebacker Logan Campbell, who was primarily a blocker for Hunter Stalker last year. ... The Dutch don’t bring back much, but they do have their leading rusher, Matthew Davis (96 carries, 686 yards, and 4 TDs in 2022).

St. Marys defeated Moniteau, 47-14, in last year’s opener.

Freeport at Indiana

7 p.m., Friday

Freeport won the Allegheny Six Conference, reached the WPIAL Class 3A semifinal, and finished 10-2 last fall. ... Indiana closed the season out with four consecutive losses and a 3-7 mark.

The Yellowjackets lost their leading rusher, passer, and receiver to graduation. They entered camp with three kids vying to be signal-caller — junior Sean Selinger, sophomore Drew Ross, and freshman Danny King. ... Indiana averaged just 15.8 points per game a year ago and will look to be stronger offensively.

Freeport won last year’s matchup between these two teams, 28-8.

Summit Academy at Shady Side Academy

7 p.m., Friday

Summit Academy, with it’s ever-changing roster, finished 1-9 last year, beating Springdale, 18-14, in Week 3. ... Shady Side Academy went 7-5 and made a solid run in the WPIAL Class 3A postseason.

The Knights don’t return a single player from last year’s crew and have just one senior this time around. They have about double the amount of players with prior competitive gridiron experience than they did in 2022. ... The Bulldogs scored at least 30 points in five of their last seven games last fall.

These two teams didn’t face off last year.