RICHMOND — The Edison football team has put an emphasis on finishing this season, and the Wildcts will look to do that when Edison welcomes Shenandoah to the Edison Unified Sports Complex for an opening week showdown.

The game between the Wildcats and the Zeps is set to kick off at 7 p.m.

The game will be the Antony Pierro’s first game as head coach of the Wildcats, while former Brooke head coach Mac McLean is in his second season as head coach of the Zeps.

Pierro replaced Mike Collopy as head coach. Collopy, who stayed on as an assistant coach, guided Edison to a 7-4 record last season, including another trip to the Ohio Division V, Region 17 playoffs.

“Physically, we are in condition for Week 1,” Anthony Pierro said. “We had a couple decent scrimmages. We played well in the first one. In the second one, we did not do what we did in the first one. We have to play well week in and week out. We are learning. We have to take what we do in practice onto the field.”

In last season’s season opener, Shenandoah held on to defeat Edison, 42-40 in a high-scoring affair at home.

“We did not finish that one at the end, and we did not finish our game against East Liverpool and the game against Indian Creek,” Pierro said. “We have reminded the kids of that. We have to finish practice the right way. We have to be able to transfer what we do in practice onto the field.

“We have to believe in ourselves. The kids are listening. We believe in them. If we continue to do those things, things are going to work out for us.”

Last season’s win against Edison was the first of only two wins Shenandoah recorded last season, and this season, the Zeps will be breaking in a new starting quarterback as senior standout Braxton Barnett decided not to play football this season.

“Their quarterback from last year isn’t playing this season,” Pierro said. “They have a different quarterback. Their new quarterback is fast and shifty. He’s good with his legs. When they go to pass the ball, we have to be ready for the fake. We are going to have to step up, tackle and keep him in front of us. Our defensive line is going to have to put pressure on him.”

The visitors from Noble County have some athletes in the secondary.

“Their defensive backs have speed,” Pierro said. “Their linebackers are able to get downhill. Offensively, we are going to have to mix it up and keep them honest.”

For the Wildcats, Friday night is all about execution.

“We have a good gameplan, we just have to go out and execute it,” Pierro said. “We have to be able to translate what we do in practice onto the field. We have a good coaching staff. The guys listen. They have bought in. We just have to make sure we translate what we do in practice onto the field. We have to execute our gameplan, and trust our ability.”

Walking talking about his team in late July, Pierro said he didn’t think he would be able to get any sleep the night before the game. Pierro said Monday the sleepless nights have already begun.

“Everything falls on me,” Pierro said. “That’s extra stress, but I believe in our guys. I want us to be successful. It’s not about me. It’s all about the kids. I want them to be successful. I want them to win. I want them to have that mentality. They have the ability. We just have to go out and perform. If we do that, I think we are going to have a successful season.”