The Collinsville Kahoks open the 2014 season Friday against Althoff, just as they did a year ago. They are hoping for a different result.

Collinsville opened the 2013 season by rumbling for more than 400 yards rushing at Althoff. A Jordan Miller fourth quarter touchdown gave the Kahoks a come-from-behind 21-17 lead, but it would not hold.

On 4th and goal from the Kahoks’ 17 yard-line, Eric Mertens through a perfect corner fade route to a well-covered Keenan Young, who leapt into the air for the touchdown catch with 3:36 to play. Collinsville’s next drive stalled at midfield, and the team that would go on to the Class 3A quarterfinals escaped with a victory.

The game was the first as head coach for John Blaylock. He would like a better result for the first game of his second season.

Preparing for the Crusaders will be different this year, with four-year starter Mertens no longer on the roster. Junior wide receiver Keenan Young and his 70 receptions for 991 yards and nine touchdowns becomes the defensive focus for Collinsville, Blaylock said.

“He is their best athlete,” Blaylock said. “Process of elimination tells you that they want the ball in his hands as much as possible.”

Defensively, the Kahoks will also try to neutralize junior running back Malik Easily – the Crusaders leading rusher last season with 516 yards and six touchdowns – and put as much heat as possible on quarterback Jordan Augustine.

Blaylock said Augustine likely has not taken a snap in two years. Collinsville would like to see how he handles the pressure of the Friday night lights.

Trying to stop the Crusaders will be a Kahok defense that Blaylock said is the fastest he has ever coached. The defensive unit returns seven starters from last season.

“They are relentless football players,” Blaylock said. “We have a lot of athletic talent on the defensive side of the football.”

Offensively, Collinsville wants to wear down Althoff’s two-way players. Blaylock estimates the Crusaders could have as many as six guys playing regularly on offense and defense, including up-to three linemen. The Kahoks will have one (Jamal Wellmaker). On a day in which the temperature is predicted to reach 90 degrees, with high humidity, fourth quarter stamina could play a major role in deciding the contest.

The Kahoks return both of their top rushers from last season. Wellmaker, a senior wingback, rushed for 701 yards and a 6.3 average in 2013. Fellow senior Jordan Miller ran for 419 yards at a 4.9 yards-per-carry clip. The two will be the focus of the run-oriented offense, Blaylock said.

“We’re going to be riding the backs of those horses, there is no question about that,” Blaylock said.

Junior wingback Zach Hammel-Brown and quarterback Jordan Reichert will be expected to ease the burden on Miller and Wellmaker. Blaylock would like to see his top three wide receivers, Marshun Kyles, Trevore Sanders and Jeremiah Danford haul in 10-12 passes in the contest.

With a dearth of information about an opponent before the season, the chess match in the opening week is played out on the field, and not in the preparation, even more so than most weeks.

“You gather as much as you can and prepare for a number of in-game adjustments in week one,” Blaylock said.

The 2014 CHS football season kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday at Kahok Stadium.