Ready or not, the Class B football season opens tonight at home for Bigfork.

“We’re about as ready as we can be,” said Bigfork coach Todd Emslie.

Bigfork won a state championship in 2010 and last year was knocked out of the playoffs in the second round.

The Vikings are three-time District 7B champs.

Bigfork will not ease its way into the 2012 fall campaign as Emslie calls tonight’s foe — Ronan — “a tough opening game.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Colter Trent takes over the quarterbacking duties while Boyd Rieke, a junior, will finally get his start at running back. Rieke has patiently waited in the wings behind Cody Dopps (now at Montana State University) and Travis Knoll (Carroll College).

“He’s ready to go,” Emslie said.

Trent, a 6-foot-5 senior, has battled back after two ACL injuries to the same knee. The first came last summer before football season. Then he tore it again in basketball.

“He’s worked so hard to get back to where he is now,” Emslie said.

“We’ve had some good quarterbacks over the years and he’s right there with them.”

Bigfork returns just three starters — seniors Austin Jordt cornerback/wide recevier; Chris Landon, safety/receiver; and Blake Weimer, center/middle linebacker

“That being said, we do have 19 letterwinners (back),” Emslie said.

“So we have some kids who played last year. We’re young, but we have kids who can make plays.”

Josh Sather, left tackle, and Matt Edwards, right tackle, are two returning letterwinners who will play a key role in the line, along with Weimer.

“The last few years we’ve had a lot of depth in the line,” Emslie said.

“We’re a little thin this year, but the kids who are in there playing are pretty darn good.”

 Vikings Schedule

Today — 7 p.m. Ronan

Sept. 7 — 7 p.m. at Deer Lodge

Sept. 14 — 7 p.m. Conrad

Sept. 21 — 7 p.m. at Plains

Sept. 28 — 7 p.m. at Troy

Oct. 5 — 7 p.m. Thompson Falls (homecoming)

Oct. 12 — 7 p.m. at Missoula Loyola

Oct. 19 — 7 p.m. Eureka (senior night)

Oct. 27 — First round of playoffs

Nov. 3 — Second round of playoffs

Nov. 10 — Third round of playoffs

Nov. 17 — State championship

Eureka adjusts to new coach, new offense

Being home for Eureka will be a good thing.

The Lions open the season tonight at 7 versus Cut Bank with a new coach — Trevor Utter — and a new offensive look — spread option.

“It should help,” Utter said.

“We’ll have a lot of support. The kids should feel comfortable, but we start the season off tough.”

Following Cut Bank, the Lions host Missoula Loyola the following Friday.

Utter, a middle school principal in the Lincoln County school system, replaces Ed Newell, who resigned after 10-plus successful seasons with the Lions. Utter is a former Eureka multi-sport standout and coached the Eureka girls basketball team for two seasons.

The Lions return three starters in Dusty Schlund, senior, offensive/defensive lineman; Chris Ibach, senior, runningback/linebacker; and Ashton Dierman, senior, wide receiver/linebacker.

“We will have eight on offense and defense who are making their first varsity start,” Utter said against Cut Bank.

“We’ll see who responds to that big game atmosphere and who doesn’t.”

Austin Perez, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound junior, will start at quarterback for the Lions.

“We’re hoping to see good things from him,” Utter said.

“He’s a big athletic kid.”

Utter said the Lions will lean on Ibach a lot offensively.

“Good speed, quick feet, great vision ... a great runningback,” said Utter.

Dalton Smith, a junior, leads a group of young receivers.

“We’re starting from scratch, a whole new offense,” Utter said.

“With a new system, it will take some time. We have to be patient with that.

“Overall, we have a lot of good, talented athletes.”

Lions Schedule

Today — 7 p.m. Cut Bank

Sept. 7 — 7 p.m. Missoula Loyola

Sept. 14 — 7 p.m. at St. Ignatius

Sept. 21 — 7 p.m. Troy

Sept. 29 — 1 p.m. at Florence

Oct. 5 — Plains (homecoming)

Oct. 12 — 7 p.m. at Thompson Falls

Oct. 19 — 7 p.m. at Bigfork

 Oct. 27 — First round of playoffs

Nov. 3 — Second round of playoffs

Nov. 10 — Third round of playoffs

Nov. 17 — State championship