By Byron Beers/Staff Writer

El Reno will need every bit of its second-half success and momentum it gained against Elk City last week.

The Indians were handed a 20-13 setback, but played their best football of the season over the final 24 minutes where they outscored the Elks 13-0.

The good news for El Reno is that the 0-3 start doesn’t mean a whole lot — the real season begins Friday when the Indians host Noble in the District 5A-2 opener for both schools.

The bad news is what lies ahead over the next three weeks. After Friday’s matchup against the Bears, the Indians travel to Class 5A, second-ranked and defending state champion Carl Albert. The following week, the Indians will host No. 3 Guthrie.

“Everything up to this point in the season doesn’t matter,” head coach Dal Nichols said. “The next three weeks is the most difficult part of our schedule. Those three teams are the best three teams we’re going to face.

“So we have great challenges ahead of us. But we welcome these opportunities and it will only make us better, especially as young as we are.”