All of the offseason work, the monotonous preseason drills, the running, the sweating, the aches and pains, and the anticipation of playing the first game of the season will be rewarded with the opening of the 2010 football season tonight.

All six of Chenango County’s football teams kick off under the lights, but had their initial taste of competition a weekend ago in controlled scrimmages against other area clubs.

Greene invited five other schools to participate on its field turf, the largest such scrimmage that we heard about. Norwich, Chenango Valley, and Deposit-Hancock were three of the other five teams on hand, said Greene coach Tim Paske, who gave his assessment of the participants

Norwich: “Norwich is big up front as usual, they’re physical, and come and hit you. I saw a lot of good things with them, and their kids believe in their system. They’re going to be tough.”

Chenango Valley: “They had a few kids injured, but they have some talent and size up front...(their success) may depend on getting the ball to the right people.”

Deposit-Hancock: “They have a lot of players and athletes to pick from, and Terry Raymond (D-H head coach) said he is doing a lot more teaching, especially to the Hancock kids learning a new system. By the end of the season, they will be a force to be reckoned with.”