For the second time in consecutive years, Pineville will open the season with a battle against Leslie County. The Mountain Lions enter the year trying to start on a positive note.

Last season, Pineville was productive against the Eagles offensively but couldn’t keep Leslie off the board. The Lions started the year off with a 47-22 defeat.

A season ago, it was Cody Scott who paced the team with 157 yards rushing and two touchdowns against the Eagles. Returning skill players Reese Capps and Matt Golden also had productive games a year ago tallying 50 and 42 yards, respectively. Golden added a touchdown as well.

Capps also provided a spark on defense last year making a team-high 10 tackles. Deon Coffman and Golden registered eight tackles apiece.

The Mountain Lions will look to start the season with a win against Leslie County.

Leslie County (0-0)

The Eagles are entering the season coming off a 4-7 year that saw them defeat the likes of Pineville, Breathitt County, East Ridge and Besty Layne before ending the season with three straight losses.

The Eagles will look a little different this season after losing three of their top five contributors on offense. Leading rusher Taten Smith returns as does wide receiver Dylan Adams. Against Williamsburg last season — where Leslie lost 46-41 — Adams caught four passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Smith finished with two receptions for 27 yards.

Tyler Dixon and Nick Hoskins, both who graduated last year, scored one touchdown apiece against Williamsburg a year ago.

The man who was the driving force behind the offense, Darron Whitaker, would have been the senior leader of the team this year. His name was not listed on the roster posted by KHSAA. Against the only foe both Pineville and Leslie share, he went 10-for-22 for 149 yards and four touchdowns against Williamsburg a year ago.

KHSAA did not provide much more information on the Eagles.