St. Mary's football coach Dan Smrekar probably couldn't have asked for a better season opener to test his defense.

The Saints will host all-state running back Ryan Smith and the Wahpeton Huskies tonight at the Community Bowl in what will be the first Class AA contest for the two former Class AAA teams.

All eyes will be on Smith, a state champion sprinter (Class A 100-meter dash) who ripped through opposing Class AAA defenses for a school-record 2,135 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2008. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior, who recently made a verbal commitment to play football at North Dakota State University, averaged 213.5 yards per game and better than seven yards per carry.

"Smith is an exceptional running back and obviously we have to find a way to contain him," Smrekar said. "I don't think you can shut a kid like that down. He's going to get his carries and his yards, but we can try and limit the damage. We can also try and take away whatever other weapons they have. The bottom line is our defense has to step up and play well. This will be a good test."

The last time Smith visited the Community Bowl he rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries in a 27-21 quarterfinal loss to Century. The Huskies led 21-13 before the Patriots rallied.

Smith is hoping for a more positive outcome this time around.

"That was a tough game to lose because it was so close and it was a playoff game," Smith said. "It'll be another tough game (on Friday). St. Mary's is supposed to be really good, and it'll be a good game to show us where we're at. It would be a big win and a big confidence-booster if we came out on top."

Smith, who rushed for 388 yards against Jamestown and 340 against Grand Forks Central last season, said the Huskies have some huge holes to fill this season. Graduation claimed, among others, their starting quarterback, a starting running back, and three regulars on the offensive line.

"We lost some really good players, but we have confidence in the people we have filling those spots," Smith said. "It might be a little shaky at first, but they're good athletes and they'll come around."

Smith said he's excited about playing in a new division, but admits he's going to miss going against the likes of Fargo South, Fargo North, West Fargo, and the other Class AAA East Region schools.

"It's definitely going to be a big difference," he said. "It was kind of fun playing the big schools, but we're looking forward to playing in the new division."

Smrekar said the Saints' offense can help out the defense tonight.

"If the offense can stay on the field, that will keep Smith and their offense off of it," the St. Mary's coach said. "We have to put together some long drives, and of course we have to finish them."

The Saints' offense has several experienced players in the offensive skill positions, including quarterback Justin Klabunde, receiver Ryan Huber, and running backs Andrew Carlson and John Welk.

Different Coal Bowl

The Coal Bowl, the annual high school football game between neighbors Hazen and Beulah, has a different feel to it this season.

For the first time in the long history of the rivalry, the two teams are in different divisions. Beulah is in Class AA, while Hazen moved from the AA ranks to Class A this season.

Also, when Hazen and Beulah meet tonight in Hazen it will be the first time they've met for a season opener. Traditionally, the game was the regular-season finale for both.

"It's kind of odd preparing for, or even thinking about the Coal Bowl this early, but that's the way it had to be this year," Beulah coach Loy Ham said. "It's a non-region game, too, and that in itself is really odd. It used to be the last game of the season for us, and many times there was something at stake, like a playoff spot. Now we're in different divisions, and our approach to the game has changed a little. Usually, the purpose of an early non-region game is to try and work out the kinks and polish things up for the region schedule. It's strange to think about the Coal Bowl that way."

Still, Ham said the circumstances shouldn't make the rivalry any less intense.

"Most non-region games are meaningless, but this one is a rivalry game and it means a lot to the players and the fans," he said. "It's a game both communities look forward to every year, and players from both teams want to win it."

Beulah goes into the contest with a chip on its shoulder. Hazen has won the last three Coal Bowls by scores of 20-14, 35-0 and 35-0.

"We want that Coal Bowl trophy back," Ham said. "And I'm sure Hazen wants to keep it."