General | February 21, 2017 | 13:07

In Friday's nightcap between Lowell and Warren De La Salle, it's a matchup between two teams whose 2016 seasons ended in very different fashions.
 
De La Salle, in its first year under the leadership of former Macomb Dakota head coach Mike Giannone, missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Meanwhile, Lowell suffered its lone loss of the 2016 campaign to Walled Lake Western in the Division 2 semifinals.
 
A year before that, the Red Arrows, led by longtime head man Noel Dean, fell to Detroit King in the Division 2 state final.

It wasn't so long ago that the Pilots reached a state final, either. In 2014, the Pilots, then led by Paul Verska, who retired after the 2015 campaign, captured their first football state championship in school history. It is now on Giannone to bring the Pilots back to relevance after a rare down season, and he should be the man to do the job after winning back-to-back state titles at Dakota in 2006 and 2007.
 
His Pilots will surely get tested right away as well against the Red Arrows, who defeated DLS in last year's opener, 36-19.

Ticket information will be announced at a later date.

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Lowell Red Arrows
Head coach: Noel Dean
2016 finish: 12-1 (Lost to Walled Lake Western, 37-34, in the Division 2 semifinal round)
All-time record against Warren De La Salle: 1-0 (Beat De La Salle, 36-19, in 2016)
Prep Kickoff Classic record: N/A (first appearance)
Key players: Senior quarterback David Kruse, senior OL Andrew LeFebre, senior OL Caleb Devereaux, senior defensive backs Brady and Connor Douma and senior receiver/safety Addison Buckius.
 
Season expectations: "We lost to Walled Lake Western in the semis last year," offensive coordinator Mike Curtis said. "We feel like we should be able to compete. And as long as we compete, let the chips fall where they may." 
 
Thoughts about playing in Prep Kickoff Classic: "It should be fun to play in it, in a different environment and against a very good team in Warren De La Salle," Curtis said. "They took it to us last year at the freshman and junior varsity levels, so we definitely have our hands full with those guys."
 
He added, "The kids are excited to play in a college atmosphere at Wayne State."
 
Warren De La Salle Pilots
Head coach: Mike Giannone
2016 finish: 4-5 (Did not qualify for the MHSAA playoffs)
All-time record against Lowell: 0-1 (Lost to Lowell, 36-19, in 2016)
Prep Kickoff Classic record: 0-2 (Last played in 2015; lost to Detroit King, 12-10)
Key players: Junior running back Cordell Tannyhill, who led team in rushing last year; junior running back and potential starting QB Carlos Smith, senior receiver and cornerback Jake Badalamenti, who ran back three kickoffs for touchdowns last year, senior tight end Cameron Crosby, senior OL Alex Collins, junior OL Danny Motowski, senior OL Frank Florez, junior cornerback Josh DeBerry, senior linebacker Brendan Madigan and senior kicker Riley Garrison.          
 
Season expectations: "We need to get better each week," Giannone said. "We need to learn how to finish. Now, that we've been together for a year, the players better understand the expectations of the coaches. There's more of a trust factor now."
 
Thoughts about playing in Prep Kickoff Classic: "It's a good thing, as Wayne State is our home field," Giannone said. "The atmosphere is conducive to the kids, and it's always a good experience for the kids. It becomes the highlight of everyone's start to the season, and it brings a championship game-level atmosphere."

Helmet graphics courtesy of Michigan Helmet Project