NORTH TONAWANDA — The North Tonawanda Lumberjacks will embark on the 2010 campaign tonight when the Kenmore West Blue Devils make the short trip to NT to take on the reigning state champs for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Jacks head coach Eric Jantzi said his squad has keyed in on defending Ken West’s speedy backfield, which includes starting quarterback Marcus Lobdell and tailback, Martin Bailey.

“They have a bunch of weapons they can attack you with,” Jantzi said. “We’re trying to figure out how to try and stop all of them. “They definitely have speed at both positions — nice backfield, nice quarterback, nice lineman. They look like they have a nice team.”

NT will be without senior starting outside linebacker, Ryan Daigler, who hurt his ankle early on during camp. Jantzi said he is confident he has players that can step in and fill the vacancy.

“We have some younger kids that are slotted in there and hopefully they can step up to the plate,” he said.

The Jacks enter the season with a game-by-game attitude, and Jantzi added that his team is eager to kickoff the new season.

“I think our kids are excited just to hit somebody else,” Jantzi said. “They’ve been hitting each other for the last couple of weeks and we’re excited to get Week 1 going. I don’t know how it’s going to end up, but I’m sure our kids are going to compete and that’s all we can ask for.”

Ken West offers a strong opponent for NT in the opening week. Behind an offensive line that averages around 240 pounds, the backfield of Lobdell and Bailey look even more dangerous, head coach Rich Harris said.

“We want the ball in Marcus’ hands, and Bailey’s,” Harris said after a recent practice. “We’re going to run a little more option, probably, making sure that (Lobdell) is going to get his touches, as far as running the football.”

The combination of size, strength and speed could make the Blue Devils a tough challenge among Niagara Frontier foes.

“I think we have nice size. We have some nice-sized guys and we have some skill players,” Harris said. “I think we have the making of a competitive team here. But that’s neither here, nor there. We have to get on the field and prove it and the kids know that.”

Last year, Ken West gave the Jacks a run for their money in the third game of the season in a 28-7 loss. Harris said he understands the level of play NT brings to the grid every year, but added that it’s a whole new season.

“It’s a new season. I know they graduated a lot of guys. I know that they’re returning state champions and haven’t lost a game since 2008,” he said. “The kids are psyched up and ready to play, but right now, everyone is undefeated. You can’t look at last year, you have to go out and execute.”

Here’s a look at the rest of the opening weekend games

Tonawanda at Alden

The Rob Gross era is set to kickoff at 7:30 tonight at Alden. The Bulldogs return from a 7-3 campaign that wrapped up with a 27-13 loss to Cheektowaga at the Ralph.

The Warriors, however, are looking to erase a forgettable losing streak that had them winless in 2009.

Although Gross wouldn’t reveal his depth chart for the 2010 opener, last year’s starting quarterback Steve Stich has returned for his senior season.

Gross said he is confident his guys are ready to get the ball rolling.

“We’ve done everything necessary to put ourselves in the best position possible,” Gross said. “The guys have worked hard all summer, they’ve worked hard during camp, on the field and in the class room during video sessions. The guys have done everything that we’ve asked them to do; the coaches have worked hard and we’re in the position that we need to be in. We couldn’t prepare any better than we have.”

The first-year coach said the Warriors have moved forward from 2009. This season, it’s all about renewing the tradition of Tonawanda football. Gross said while a win in the opener would be a huge boost, he doesn’t want to base the team’s early season success on one game.

“Every time we take the field, we keep in mind that we have a tradition to uphold, a tradition of excellence,” he said. “It wouldn’t be right for us to focus on one game and have it mean something (more) because of last season.”

Cardinal O’Hara at Canisius

Cardinal O’Hara and head coach Angelo Sciandra admittedly have a tough slate this season, with a pair of national power houses on the schedule — at Xavier of New York City in Week 2 and Steubenville (Ohio) in the regular-season finale.

But the Hawks’ season opener is no slouch, Sciandra said.

The defending Monsignor Martin Association champions will square off Saturday at Canisius’ Stransky Complex in West Seneca.

“They are the one of the better teams in the state, if not best team in the state,” Sciandra said of Canisius. “They have one of the best teams I’ve seen in years. They have the whole package. They have the skill kids, they have the lineman. They have everything. They are the real deal this year. All the hype they got this year is all true.”

O’Hara will have to defend a dangerous Travis Eman, who will line up under center for the Crusaders.

Meanwhile, though, Canisius will need to contain an opposing threat of its own, as the Hawks return standout senior tailback, Robert Davis, who rushed for more than 700 yards and eight scores a year ago.

For the Hawks and young quarterback Anthony DeFrancesco, the season opener is key in order to build some confidence early on this season.

“The first game is always important,” Sciandra said. “We have to figure out how to win the game. We have a tough one, but we still need to go out and win the game. It isn’t going to be easy.”

St. Joe’s at Aquinas

All the talk going into the 2010 season in MMA football has revolved around Canisius, but the Marauders have gladly slid under the radar going into their Week 1 matchup.

St. Joe’s travels to Rochester to take on Aquinas, a four-time defending Section V Class A champion, for a 7 p.m. kickoff tonight.

“I don’t worry about anybody that we’re playing,” first-year coach Dennis Gilbert said. “We’re going to be prepared for whoever we play. Whether we’re playing a team from Ohio, New York City, from Rochester, from here, we’re going to prepare our kids to be ready to go and we’re going to control what we do.”

The Marauders boast a well-known name under center, with national Punt, Pass and Kick champion Chad Kelly taking snaps.

Kenmore East at Sweet Home

The Bulldogs, who went 1-9 a year ago, will have a tough test to open up the 2010 season at defending Class A state champion Sweet Home at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Despite having to endure some tough losses, including starting quarterback Pat McMahon, Ken East undoubtedly will have to key in on junior Jordan Johnson and Mikal Coleman in the Panthers backfield.

Bulldogs coach Matt Chimera said the ball didn’t roll in his team’s favor last season, as it suffered some tough losses.

“That’s where we need to get better,” said Chimera, regarding his team’s ability to close out games. “I don’t know if it was for any lack of urgency last year, or work ethic. That was a hard-working group last year and the kids played well for the most part.”