There were many new faces all across the field and on both sides of the ball for the Parkland football team last Friday night in its home opener at Parkland School District Stadium.

But just as they’ve done the last six seasons, the Trojans took care of business and played better football than their opposition. They used a 28-point third quarter to take full advantage of the game and dominate Northampton 41-0 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference opening weekend for both teams.

“It felt good coming out here in the first game and not only getting a win, but also playing as well as we did to get that win,” said senior running back Joey Guida. “There’s a lot of new guys out there, so getting the experience of a big victory against a good team like Northampton is only going to help us.”

Guida became the number one tailback this season after the graduation of All-State player Jahan Worth last season. He ended his night with 139 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, even though his night technically ended early in the third quarter when the game became out of reach.

Guida helped Parkland take the early lead on its first possession as the back ran for 59 yards on five attempts, including a four-yard score to cap the game’s opening drive.

“I knew I had to step up and be a leader this year,” Guida said. “We have a lot of younger guys getting some playing time for the first time, so I had to communicate and step into a leadership role.”

Dominic Nelson, who played in a backup role to Guida but also saw plenty of action last season, tallied a touchdown of his own in the third quarter as the Trojans used the legs of their running backs to ease the transition of their new quarterbacks.

Senior Andrew Lee got the start in the opening series, but traded series thereafter in the first half with junior Tanner Lewis. Neither signal caller recorded a touchdown through the air, but both moved the ball down the field, did not turn the ball over, and used their own legs in creating offense. That’s all head coach Tim Moncman could ask for in the duo’s first meaningful varsity minutes.

“I thought they both played well for their first real games,” said Moncman. “They didn’t try do anything too much or hurt the team. They managed the game and that’s what you want them to do.”

After a somewhat slow start (Parkland led just 13-0 at halftime), the offense settled in and put up points.

The defense, on the other hand, was clicking on all cylinders all game. Parkland held Northampton to just 80 yards of total offense, and the Kids never sniffed the red zone all night.

“Coach Moncman always tells us to fly to the ball wherever it is on the field,” said Guida, also a linebacker. “So we just played fast and aggressive and didn’t give them a lot of room to work with.”

Parkland travels to take on Central Catholic this Saturday night at J Birney Crum in its first EPC South Division contest.