Friday night Parkland will begin its quest for a fifth straight District 11 title.

The Trojans host Allen to open the 2016 season. After four straight Class 4A championships, this year they will compete in the new Class 6A.

While the Canaries might seem like an easy warm-up game, the Trojans are being careful not to look past any opponent and first-year head coach Tim Moncman won’t let them take Allen lightly.

“Coach Moncman said every game we have to look to punch them in the mouth,” said third-year starting offensive lineman Patrick Ferry. “We have to go in with our intensity high and be ready.”

Allen went 1-9 last season, earning its first win since 2012. The Canaries will certainly want to make a statement against the 2015 PIAA runner-up team.

Although several big names graduated from last year’s state finalist, the Trojans have returning players on the offensive line and all over the defense.

The Canaries feature junior quarterback Romeo Wright and senior running back Angel Aguila.

Parkland’s defense has several returning players and will likely be up for the challenge of stopping the Canaries.

With several big games in the first half of the season, the Trojans have to be careful not to look past Allen and Nazareth in week two before a gauntlet of Liberty, Easton, Freedom and Whitehall comes up in weeks 3-6.

“You have to treat every game the same,” said senior wide receiver/defensive back Zach Bross. “You always have to give them your best because they’re always going to give you their best.”

Bross is one of just a few returning offensive skill position players. Parkland graduated MVP quarterback Devnate Cross, along with leading rusher Erik Dirolamo and receiver Kenny Yeboah.

“There’s definitely some younger guys stepping up,” said Ferry. “Our whole team atmosphere this year is more of a family. We definitely have guys that can step up and fill those holes.”

Junior quarterback Michael Ruisch and a talented stable of running backs that includes seniors Nick Suriel and Frank Guida along with juniors Mason Malozzi and Nick Suriel.

While the backfield has some first-year starters, the players up front have plenty of experience.

Ferry, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound senior, will play left tackle and anchor a line that has three returning starters in Ferry, Andrew Perry and Alex VanWoert. Juniors Mike Novak and Jake Correll are likely to fill the other two spots up front.

“It’s looking good,” said Ferry. “We’re feeling good about this year. We’ve built a really good bond over the years. We’ve been together since freshman ball. In the offseason we do everything together.”

The Trojans are hoping that line leads them back to the place last season ended. But for now they’ll focus on where this season begins.

“We’re real excited,” said Bross. “We want to get back to where we were last year, back to Hershey, but it’s week by week.”

1966 team to be honored

During halftime of Friday night’s season opener, the undefeated 1966 Parkland High School team will be honored.

The Lehigh-Northampton League champs went 10-0 to earn the school’s first league title in football.