The Parkland football team opened the season just like expected, rolling over Dieruff 49-7 in its first game of 2014.

The Trojans rolled up 366 yards of offense while holding the Huskies under 100 yards.

"I think we played very well," said senior nose guard Amir Wallace. "There's always things we can improve on and things we should improve on as a team. Just being together and practicing will make us play better as a team."

The Trojans, which graduated two starting running backs from last year's District 11 title team, saw six different players carry the ball into the end zone against Dieruff, as senior Unique Divine led the team with 143 rushing yards and one score.

Quarterback Devante Cross completed five of eight passed for 81 yards and one touchdown.

As effective as the Trojans were on offense, they were even better on defense.

"Defensively we were outstanding," said Parkland head coach Jim Morgans. "The way we pursued to the football looked to me like we were watching last year's games. That's how well we ran to the ball."

"We definitely played well," said senior lineman Shane Fisher. "We're known for every guy on the field getting to the ball by the end of the play."

Parkland will look for that same type of effort against Northampton this week. The Konkrete Kids have a new head coach and snapped a 19-game losing streak with a 40-6 win over Allen on opening night.

"Being a Wing-T team they run a lot," said Wallace, a second-year starter on defense. "They're very fast of the ball. If we do what we're taught to do, then we can stop them."

First-year head coach Mark Scisly brings his 1-0 to Orefield for the Trojans home opener. Northampton ran for 337 yards in their opening-night win with two players getting over 100 yards.

"The Wing-T is a very difficult offense to defend," said Morgans. "They do a pretty good job with it. There's a lot of deception so you've got to stay in your lanes and make sure you've got the backside covered because they do a lot of reverses and a lot of play action passing. The defensive backs can't get nosy. They've got to read their keys, read the guards."

The Trojans face their second of four straight opponents that finished with losing records last season. But every game is important for a team with expectations of not just defending a district title, but also moving deeper into the postseason this year.

"I think we can be very good," said Wallace. "If we play together and we develop, I think we can be a threat to any team."

"Everyone here believes we can go to states," said Fisher, who starts at offensive guard and defensive tackle. "For the past two years we lost the same weekend after Thanksgiving and we want that to change this year."