BOURBON - Time for Friday Night Lights! It's week one of the 2024 high school football season. There is excitement in the air statewide and Bourbon, Indiana, is not different. The 57th meeting between LaVille and Triton will kick off at 7 p.m. from the Trojan Trench in Bourbon, Indiana. LaVille finished 11-2 overall and won an IHSAA Class 2A sectional championship.  Triton lost to North Judson-San Pierre in the IHSAA Class 1A sectional title game and closed the season at 8-4 overall. The 2023 season also closed the book for the Lancers in the Hoosier North Athletic Conference.  This season, LHS joins five other school's as the Indiana Northern State Conference fires up. Last week, both LaVille and Triton participated in scrimmages. The Lancers traveled to Prairie Heights, while the Trojans played host to Jimtown. We had a chance to chat with LaVille head coach Jeff Kaiser following the scrimmage. "We felt the offense did a decent job at times," said Kaiser. "We ran a very modified offense against Prairie Heights to focus on simple techniques that we teach daily and allow us to get on film and look at what we need to work on.  Overall there were some good things and also things I feel we can correct very quickly in which we need to very quickly, with Triton on our doorstep Friday Night. "At times we played defense well and at others I felt like there wasn't much intensity," Kaiser continued about the defense.  "I know the intensity is there as I have seen it at practice a majority of the time.  Our tackling needs to improve and overall pursuit needs to sharpen up.  I did like how physically we played. We just need to work on consistency and do the little things a little sharper.  Again, our guys know that and these things mentioned will be a focus this week and moving forward.  First time the unit has been on film against an opponent and the film session on Saturday was very solid and understanding on things of concern." In tonight's season-opener, LaVille wants to get off to a good start, especially on the road.   With graduation, several key areas will be in the microscope on both sides of the ball, and for both teams. The Lancers will have a new quarterback.  Getting an equal split of plays during the pre-season and at Prairie Heights were senior Collin Czarnecki and junior Brayden Schwitz. At this point, there is no official word as to who the starter will be. Or that we could see both Czarnecki and Schwitz.  There are several other positions that will have a new first-stringer, including on the offensive and defensive line, at tight end, and in the LaVille receiving corps.  The linebacking core and the secondary should provide solid experience, while Cody Allen and Jonathan Neese return in the backfield for LHS.Stay tuned! Triton showed in the scrimmage against the Jimmies there the THS defense is going to cause problems.  The defensive front line not only wraps up, but looks to cause fumbles in the process.  All things considered, the Trojans fared pretty well in that area. Kaiser's crew picked up a hard-earned 22-16 victory last season at Lancer Field on August 25, 2023. The game is set for a 7 p.m. kick and can be viewed on-line by clicking https://www.ihsaatv.org/ttsn/  The cost will be $10.60, including fees, to watch the game. Game On ... G A M E D A Y  TEAMS: LaVille (0-0) at Triton (0-0)   WHERE: Trojan Trench, Bourbon, IN.   WHEN: Friday, August 23, 2024   TIME: 7 p.m. ET   COACHES: Jeff Kaiser (11-2 in 2nd season at LaVille); Zach Whittaker (8-4 in 2nd season at Triton).  LAST OUTING: LaVille lost 22-0 in IHSAA Regional. Triton lost 33-7 to North Judson-San Pierre in the IHSAA Sectional championship. ALL-TIME SERIES: LaVille leads Triton, 38-17-1  LAST MEETING: LaVille def. Triton, 22-16, Aug. 25, 2023   NOTING: THE LANCERS – return 11 seniors from a team that finished 11-2 overall and registered an IHSAA Class 2A sectional title ... have been in a quarterback battle between Collin Czarnecki and Brayden Schwitz. Czarnecki threw five passes a year ago, while Schwitz tossed just two passes last fall ... were led by running back Cody Allen with 1,515 yards rushing and 21 rushing touchdowns ... also got 234 yards and six TDs from fullback Jonathan Neese ... also return Xzavian Lafave at wideout after 173 receiving yards.  Lafave is looking for his first varsity touchdown reception ... also have several players back on the defensive side of the football ... return Braedyn Foster at linebacker, who finished 2023 with 98 tackles, including 19 tackles for loss ... also return Jnathan Neese (83 tackles, 11 TFL), Xzavian Lafave (73 tackles, 5 TFL), and  Collin Czarnecki (54 tackles) ... secondary picked off 11 passes in 2023, led by Czarnecki and Lafave with three thefts each ... defense was ranked in the top 25 in the state for all classes, allowing under 14 points per game ... Cody Allen and Braedyn Foster were recognized by Indiana Football Digest as pre-season all-state selections ... lead the all-time series 38-17-1.  THE TROJANS - lost several key two-way players including Cole Shively (1,463 passing yards and 20 touchdowns) , Tucker Worsham, Pierce Brookins, Javan May (578 yards receiving and a team-best 14 touchdowns), and Kohan Hensley ( 33 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks) ... Wing-T offense averaged 185 yards rushing and 115 yards passing ... return all-conference wide out Dante' Workman, who led THS with 32 catches for 807 yards and eight touchdowns ... also graduated its quarterback Cole Shively.  His replacement will likely be Gage Riffle, who tossed 18 passes in 2023 for 133 yards and two TDs in limited action ... expect back Ben McFarland, Vinny Prater, and Jayden Overmyer.  Prater led all rushers with764 yards and six touchdowns.  Overmyer added 502 yards and eight TDs ... 4-4 defense has seven letterwinners back ...vDante Workman was recognized by Indiana Football Digest as pre-season all-state selection ... trail the all-time series 38-17-1 ... last home victory over LaVille came on August 25, 2017 when the Bourbon hosts won 22-14 at The Trojan Trench. QUOTING: "Triton has several guys back from a very successful season last year.  They have tremendous speed throughout their lineup and play physically.  To go along with that, they have good size.   We are going to have to play 48 minutes and match their intensity in order to out-execute them and get the win in week 1." – Jeff Kaiser, LaVille head football coach  BROADCAST/LIVE STREAM: The LaVille game can be seen and heard by clicking https://www.ihsaatv.org/ttsn/ LaVille at Triton can also be heard at MAX98.3FM/MAX983.NET with Tony Ross & his crew. Keep up to date with scoring updates and highlights by following LaVille on 'X' (Twitter) @LVAthletics, on our website at www.lavillelancers.com , or on Facebook at facebook.com/AthleticsLaVille Bring The Excitement! We'll See You At The Game!