Polk County High School head football coach Bruce Ollis expects a couple of things about the Wolverines season opener at Tuscula:

First, the turf field is going to be hot. Second, the Mountaineers are still going to be a little hot under the collar after a losing to PCHS 26-21 a year ago in the first meeting between the two schools.

I expect it to be a hard-fought ballgame, Ollis said. We may have snuck up on them a little bit, and, as a result, were going to get their best effort.

The neophyte series continues at 7:30 p.m. today at Tuscolas C.E. Weatherby Stadium.

After last years lost to PCHS, Tuscola went unbeaten until a Western N.C. finals matchup against eventual Class 2A champion West Rowan, finishing the season at 12-2-1.

The Wolverines got good news this week when starting quarterback Andre Overholt was cleared to play in the season opener. Overholt had been nursing an ankle injury and did not play in the preseason.

Ollis said he expects the Mountaineers, who scored five touchdowns in its preseason scrimmage against Swain, to have a new look after the graduation of Western N.C. Player of the Year QB Tyler Brosius, who is now a redshirt freshman at N.C. State.

He could really sling the ball, said Ollis. But (Tuscola coach Donnie Kiefers) style is to line up and punch you in the nose. So, I think were going to see a different Tuscola team this year. Theyll be hard-nosed.

GAME NOTES

PCHS and Tuscola have agreed to extend their home-and-home series for two more seasons through 2012. . . . The Wolverines are 3-0 on turf fields 2-0 against Avery and 1-0 against Owen.