Saucon Valley just missed out on last season's District 11 football playoffs, finishing 7-3 in league play.

But that didn't stop the Panthers from capping off a successful season with an Eastern Conference Class AAA championship as the No. 3 seed in the tournament.

On Friday night, Salisbury will kick off the 2014 season against those Panthers at Saucon Valley High School's Illick Stadium at 7 p.m.

For this group of Falcons, it's been months of waiting to get the regular season started and build off last season's 2-8 season. The preparation has been put in over practice in recent weeks. The time to put all of it together is quickly approaching.

"I think they've been ready for a couple of weeks now, and now it's here," head coach Andy Cerco said. "They're definitely excited. They've put in a great deal of work in the offseason, and now it's time to go.

"Football is a different sport where you practice and prepare far more than you actually play games. That anticipation and excitement is definitely there."

Saucon Valley had strong running game last year, led by 2014 graduate Nick Savant who eclipsed 2,000 yards on the ground. There will be a noticeable difference in the Panthers' backfield.

While the Colonial League First-Team selection at running back is no longer on the team, Cerco doesn't expect the team's approach to pounding the ball between the tackles to change.

"They're a downhill running team," Cerco said. "They like to run iso and power. Those are things that we are going to be prepared for. We are going to put our kids in the best position to make a play, and then it comes down to our players versus their players."

"The key for them really is up front. They have some really good offensive lineman."

Mike Kane, a Colonial League honorable mention at tight end and defensive end last year, returns as a key piece in the Panthers' attack on both ends of the ball.

On offense, he provides quarterback Zach Thatcher with a big target in the passing game when the Panthers choose to air it out. He'll also be a force on the team's defensive edge.

"They run the ball so effectively that it sets up their play-action pass game," Cerco said. "In any play-action pass game, the tight end certainly should be a good weapon, and they definitely have a player there that can perform well.

"They like to look for them, and our kids are aware of that."

Last season, the Falcons dropped their game against the Panthers 53-3, their toughest loss of 2013.

"Last year's stuff will help us as far as what they like to do overall," Cerco said. "Then we compared it with their first two scrimmages, and not much has changed as far as their philosophy offensively and defensively.

"As far as what they're going to do, it's pretty clear what they're going to do."