Published: August 28, 2008 08:29 pm         

Early test for Salt Fork

Storm, Tigers are rated No. 4 in preseason poll

CATLIN — A year ago, Arcola and Salt Fork nearly met in the Class 1A quarterfinals.

But the battle between the Purple Riders and the Storm never materialized.

Arcola did its part with a 26-24 win over Jacksonville Routt, but Salt Fork dropped a 12-7 contest to Greenfield-Northwestern.

“We wanted to be there against them, but we just didn’t get the job done,’’ said Salt Fork coach Brian Plotner, who knew a year ago that these two teams would be squaring off in an opening week contest at Catlin High School.

While neither team is exactly the same as they were last November, both teams return a wealth of experience to make this game a critical test for both squads.

“Our kids and our community are really looking forward to this game,’’ Plotner said. “Arcola has an outstanding reputation, and we are going to find out right away where we stand.’’

In the preseason poll released on Wednesday by the Associated Press, the Storm are rated No. 4 in Class 1A.

“That is a very nice compliment for our team, but it will not mean much if we don’t play a good football game on Friday night,’’ said Plotner, whose team went 8-3 a year ago and returns all-area quarterback J.D. Learn-ard, who threw for more than 1,600 yards.

The Purple Riders are unrated and they were 10-3 a year ago.

Arcola returns both of its running backs in Cameron Anderson and Beau Fishel, who combined for more than 1,800 yards and 26 touchdowns.

“They lost a few kids on their line, but those two backs are as good as we’re going to see,’’ Plotner said. “When we got knocked out of the playoffs last season, we got a chance to watch them three times.

“They have a team that is going to be playing with confidence and experience from making the Class 1A semifinals.’’

So is the coach happy to start the year off with such a competitive team?

“Every coach talks about how good their opponent is and playing one game at a time,’’ he said. “That’s something our team had better know and understand heading into this game.

“Arcola is going to be a very formidable foe and everything we learn about our team this Friday night is going to make us a better team as the year goes along.’’

In other games featuring Vermilion Valley Conference teams, the Westville Tigers coming off of back-to-back Class 2A runner-up finishes opens the 2008 campaign at home against Iroquois West.

Westville is rated No. 4 in the preseason Class 2A poll.

Other teams at home on Friday night will be Georgetown-Ridge Farm against Watseka, Hoopeston Area will host East Central and Milford will be at home against Mooseheart.

Taking to the road for the first game of the season will be Bismarck-Henning at Champaign St. Thomas More and Oakwood/Armstrong-Potomac against Arthur-Lovington.

Schlarman will wait until Tuesday to kick off its season in Chicago against Hope Academy.

On the Indiana side of the state line, Attica, Covington, Fountain Central and Seeger look to bounce back from opening week setbacks, while North Vermillion is the lone team to get a win during the opening week.

The Trojans and the Patriots figure to have two of the toughest battles of the week.

Covington (0-1) travels to Rockville to play the second-rated Rox and their senior quarterback Matt King.

Seeger (0-1), coming off a 45-38 loss to Rockville, plays at North Montgomery.

“Matt King is one of the best quarterbacks that I’ve seen,’’ Seeger coach Brian Moore said.

In other games: Attica (0-1) is at Clinton Prairie, Fountain Central (0-1) is at home against Turkey Run (0-1), while North Vermillion (1-0) will host South Vermillion (1-0).