The preseason is officially over.

After months of workouts, 7-on-7's, and practices under the sweltering heat, the day that pigskin fans have been waiting for since last December is finally here: the season opener.

Scotland will look to begin its 2010 campaign the same way it did in 2009: with a win over Seventy-First.

After besting the Falcons, 19-17, in Fayetteville last year, Seventy-First will be looking for a measure of payback.

"From what I've heard, everybody is better than they were last year and from what I've seen in their game film from their scrimmage (vs. Purnell Swett), they're alot faster and it will be a big challenge for us," Williams said.

Coach Chip Williams knows that Falcons coach Bob Paroli, who is entering his 52nd year of coaching, will have his team ready to compete at Pate Stadium at 7:30 p.m. tonight.

"With our schedule, there's nobody that we can overlook, no easy W's on the schedule," said Williams. "Every week we're going to have to come to work and come to play."

Two years removed from a Class 4-A State Championship, the Falcons still have All-Conference defensive end John Brown and all All-Mid-South Conference Athlete of the Year Maurice Scruggs.

The senior ran the ball 227 times for 1,311 yards (5.8 yards per carry), finding the end zone 21 times.

Joining Brown and Scruggs are junior linebacker Willie Thompson, who was All-Conference for 5-7 Seventy-First in 2009 and junior Jarrious McKoy.

The Scots will look to counter with the play of juniors Kwashawn Quick (604 passing yards on 52-of-132 attempts and 85 carries for 529 yards), Tony McRae (108 carries for 697 yards) and Caison Murphy (90 carries for 448 yards).