Five things to watch for

Football season is officially here with games beginning tonight.
To help you further prepare for each week of games, I’m going to be listing five story lines that could be deciding factors in many of the games involving Eastern Jackson County teams.
Fort Osage’s offensive line: Everyone knows Dalton Krysa is a beast in the backfield for the Indians. But Krysa will always tell you his success begins with the boys in front of him opening holes.
Right now, the Indians are still fighting to figure out who their starting five will be. And against a tough opponent like Park Hill South in week one – a team that has owned Fort Osage recently – that’s going to be a rough time to try to get people to gel together.
This week’s first key: If the Indians get good play on the offensive line, they can win this game. But that one area of the game may be the deciding factor.
2. Welcome to the big time Lee’s Summit West: The Titans have been one of the best football teams in the state – regardless of class – for the last three years. In fact, I’m shocked they only have one state title.
And while the Titans have played Class 6 schools in the past – most notably Liberty – they have never faced a team like they have with Blue Springs in the opener.
In facing Blue Springs, the Titans are facing a powerhouse program – what they hope to be in the next few years if Royce Boehm and his coaches have their way.
I will guarantee the Titans won’t back down. But I think Blue Springs is going to be too tough for them, giving the Titans their first regular season loss since this group of seniors were freshmen.
3. New faces abound: A lot of talk is surrounding Blue Springs South’s opener with Rockhurst Sunday morning on ESPN.
I can’t think of a more visible opener for a defense that returns no starters from last year.
Those new faces are going to be tested early and often by a Rockhurst offense that returns nearly all their skill positions. However, the Rockhurst line will not be that much more experienced that South’s defense. And the Jaguars can make up some ground there.
Expect the South defense to struggle some early, but use that experience to get better as the season goes on.
4. New field for Eagles: Grain Valley will be officially opening its new synthetic turf field Friday night.
That field keeps them in good company in the MRVC West conference, as now four of the six teams have artificial fields.
In addition to the new field, the brand new offensive backfield will be on display for the Eagles, most notably Austin Gouldsmith at quarterback and Chris Burns at I-back. The Eagles will also go to an I-formation system rather than split back. In fact, the offense should be similar to that of the Nebraska Cornhuskers of Tom Osborne.
5. Streak snapped?: William Chrisman is looking to snap an 11-game losing streak that consumed all of last season and the last game of the 2006 season.
The Bears looked solid in the jamboree – particularly with the running game offensively.
Helping the Bears will be a matchup with a Ruskin team that has won only one game the last two seasons – and four total for the last three – including going 0-10 last year.
So regardless of who wins, a long losing streak is going to be snapped.