OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — Coming off its first District 10 championship in 20 years, Oil City will have to find a way to fill the shoes of District 10’s single-season rushing record holder, Christian Cole.

Cole rushed for 3,252 yards and 46 touchdowns a year ago while helping the Oilers go 10-2 and win the D10 Class 5A title, their first D10 title since 1998.

The good news for Oil City as it embarks on its season opener when it hosts Conneaut (Pa.) at 7 p.m. Friday, August 23, is that three offensive linemen are back paced by 6-0, 285-pound junior Mario Fontanazza.

Quarterback Holden Stahl is also back, but Stahl threw just 29 passes last season, although he did run for 522 yards and four touchdowns.

Sophomore Brayden Crocker, the leading tackler with 122 a year ago, returns to lead a defense.

Conneaut is coming off a 5-5 season that included a 46-27 loss to Oil City in the season opener.

The Eagles have to replace do-everything QB Kyle Sheets.

Tanner Niemanm, a senior who is listed as a QB on the roster, is one of the returning leaders for Conneaut, as is senior receiver Eli Boyce.

NORTH EAST AT FRANKLIN

FRANKLIN, Pa. — Franklin will look to improve on last season’s 3-7 mark when it starts the 2019 season by hosting North East at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Knights are strong at quarterback where four-year starter Ian Haynes leads the way. Haynes is coming off a junior season that saw him throw for 2,398 yards and 25 touchdowns vs. nine interceptions. He has thrown for 6,906 career yards with 71 touchdowns and 39 interceptions.

Hayne’s top receivers, Cade Adams (49 catches, 976 yards, 10 TDs) is also back as is Eli Stewart (31 catches, 478 yards, 7 TDs).

Franklin still struggled to run the ball last season gaining 349 yards as a team led by Stewart’s 219 yards and two touchdowns.

Wyatt Wadding returns to lead the defense having made 52 tackles in 2018 as a junior.

North East, which lost to Franklin, 34-21, last year is coming off a 2-8 season.