Last year, Lehman High started the school’s varsity football history off with a win in the season opener over Johnston. An ugly, 10-6 victory over the Rams at home.

This year, Lehman will be looking to do much of the same against Johnston on the road at Nelson Field in Austin as the Lobos open up the season against the Rams for the second year in a row at 7 p.m. tonight.

The odds are in the Lobos’ favor. While Lehman struggled last year and finished 2-8, Johnston didn’t manage a single victory for the third year in a row. The Rams are 4-36 since the beginning of the 2003 season when Johnston’s seniors entered as freshmen.

“We’re not taking anything for granted because it was a tough game last year,” Lehman head coach Steve Davis said. “They know it was close and they’ll be ready.”

Despite Johnston’s lack of success, Lehman will still have to come together in order to hold off the Rams. The Lobos will likely be missing their top two running backs in RJ Hardaway and Chris Duran, both out with knee injuries. That puts a lot of the burden on first year starter Chad Miles at quarterback and playmaker Jesse Primeau, a preseason All-Corridor selection on defense that will have to be a big-time player on offense if Lehman is to improve this season.

Sophomore Garrett Miles, who is Chad’s younger brother, and Enoch Tamez are possibilities to carry the load for the Lobos, but its really a tossup what Lehman will do on offense. Chris Holmes and Jacob Torres will likely get the bulk of the carries at running back.

On defense, Lehman will likely be stout because of a host of returning starters, but the unit will need the offense to buckle down and control the clock more so the defense can stay fresh longer. Patrick Hayes should be solid at defensive end and several other Lobos will see time on both sides. Head coach Steve Davis is planning on playing a lot more players on both offense and defense this season.

The Lobos do have a little inside perspective on the Rams to rely on too. Lehman offensive coordinator David Garza was Johnston’s head coach the last three seasons, so he knows a great deal about the squad’s personnel.

Chris Mims, a speedy defensive back, will likely play quarterback for Johnston and should provide some senior leadership. A host of young players will also factor in heavily for Johnston, much like they will for Lehman. The Lobos start a pair of sophomores at linebackers.

Lehman has an interesting schedule to start the season. The Lobos opened with three straight home games on Friday nights in 2006, but this year they’ll open on the road three times in a row in a pair of Thursday night games and a Saturday matchup with San Antonio Edison.

In other Thursday night action, San Marcos Academy will host a season opener with 1A Medina. The Bears dropped the 2006 opener against Medina but managed to qualify for the playoffs last year.

Hayden Lyon will run the Bears’ spread offense at quarterback while Jacob Carruthrers and Ramius Asberry should factor in as playmakers.