Pearl River’s Rebels will try to begin the season 2-0 tonight when they take on the Pine Raiders at home. Kickoff is at 7 o’clock.

Pearl River is coming off a 26-0 opening-day victory over Pope John Paul II last Thursday, while Pine (0-1) fell to Loranger, 40-14. The Raiders went 0-10 last year, and first-year coach Paul Burgard said he wants his team focused on getting better.

“We’re still in the area of trying to improve every week,” Burgard said. “Since our team was 0-10 last year, it’s a fragile thing. We don’t want to get to be in the mindset of 0-10.” One of the big questions coming into this week is the health of junior running back James Gillum, who left last week’s game with a rib injury with about eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Rebel coach Joe Harris said Gillum practiced light on Tuesday, and he hopes to have him back for the contest.

Pearl River quarterback Matt Smith (12) hands off to running back Jeremiah Levy (40) during last Thursday'€™s game at PJP. Reed gained 107 yards with a touchdown. (File Photo by James Elorriaga)

Last week, Gillum ran for 176 yards and three touchdowns out of PRHS’ Wing-T offense.

If he can’t go, the Rebels will look for production from senior Will Reed and junior Jeremiah Levy. Both players did well in last week’s game. Reed rushed for 107 yards on 12 carries, including a 48-yard touchdown run, while Levy got 78 yards on 12 totes.

Those guys will be running behind a line that includes senior center Justin Piglia (5-foot-10, 269 pounds), junior left guard Mason Lee (5-10, 193), senior right guard Nick Gaines (5-10, 210), senior left tackle William Howell (6-5, 275), senior right tackle Ethan Baragona (5-9, 330) and senior tight end Jacob Rester (5-11, 201).

Harris said this might be one of the best offensive lines he’s ever had as a group.

The Rebs’ quarterback is senior Matt Smith, who had no pass attempts last week. When he does throw, his main weapon is senior wide receiver Jacob Maxwell, who also plays safety and punter.

Defensively, Pine has a 40 front and bases out of the 4-4. Burgard said junior safety Mike Brunfield makes the calls. Defensive lineman Brandon Whaley anchors the line for the Raiders.

Offensively, Pine runs the power Wing-T with quarterback Daryl Westbrook at quarterback. Last week he threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Spencer Robinson.

Running back Ed Pittman scored the other Raiders’ TD on a 5-yard run.

Pearl River’s defense is a 3-5-3 odd stack led by Stephen Arthur. The group held PJP to 101 yards last week and forced a turnover when Kendall Twillie recovered a fumble with 11:04 left in the game as PJP was threatening to score.