OSKALOOSA — While playing the annual Old Shoe game gave the Oskaloosa football team a chance to do some live tackling, running and passing, there’s nothing like opening the season against a real opponent.

Oskaloosa, which went 8-3 last season and lost to ADM in the Class 3A quarterfinals, starts the season Friday night against Indianola, a Class 4A team with a win already under its belt. Indianola blasted Des Moines Hoover 42-18 in a Week Zero game.

Oskaloosa coach Mark Schilb said a team that already having played a game could prove to be an advantage for Indianola.

“You always learn a lot from Week 1 to Week 2 and it will be a little bit of an advantage for them,” he said. “We tried to make our scrimmage game-like as much as possible, but there’s no substitution for an actual game.”

Schilb said his players are “absolutely” ready to hit players on the opposing team.

Indianola got its season off to an auspicious beginning as Aaron Johnson rambled 65 yards for a touchdown on the game’s opening play.

It racked up 223 yards in the first half alone on the ground.

Indianola got touchdown passes from quarterbacks Jon Greiner and Cody Smith to help put the Huskies in a hole which they never got out.

“They have a strong running game and a big, physical offensive line,” Schilb said. “Their junior right guard is getting some looks from Division I schools. On film, they look very  big and physical.”

Oskaloosa is in a district that has four new opponents with Carlisle, Knoxville, Norwalk and Winterset joining the fray along with holdovers Pella, Chariton, Keokuk and Grinnell from recent seasons.

“We take what’s dealt to us and try to control what we can control and get ready the best that we can,” Schilb said. “I see a very competitive district with Norwalk being strong on paper with its tailback, quarterback and many linebackers returning.”

Oskaloosa’s schedule is not going to be easy one as Five teams — Pella, Norwalk, Carlisle, Grinnell and Keokuk — qualified for the playoffs.

“I expect us to (be in hunt for playoffs). I will expect that every year,” Schilb said. “We have worked very hard in the weight room.”

After running out of the single-wing last season, Oskaloosa will be going mainly out of the I-formation and other offensive sets.

Jesse VanDalen is slated to be the starter at quarterback for the Indians with Austin Redlich expecting to be a backup signal-caller as well as a starting wide receiver.

Schilb said the returnees on the defensive side of the ball are going to be a key on how well the team will do in 2012.

“Our linebackers are going to be a strength, in particular Brandon Strasser and Mason Wisse as well as Keoki Gibson and Zach Mateer,” he said. “They’re returning starters and have played a lot and have been looking good. Dane Jones, Steven Shannon and Jake Wills up front as well.

“Austin had a lot of big plays for us at receiver. Look for us to open it up more compared to last year with two of our bigger playmakers are Redlich and Tyce Sarver. Hopefully we can get the ball outside more in the air. Jesse is getting better every day at quarterback and Ryder Curtis, a starting tight end, is physical and has good hands and a good athlete.”