With a restructured Mission League and a handful of fresh nonleague foes to contend with, the 2010 St. Francis High football schedule was one rife with unfamiliar and unforgiving opponents.
A season later, St. Francis is well aware of just how dangerous its 2011 slate can be.
"I knew our schedule was gonna be tougher last year," said St. Francis football Coach Jim Bonds, whose Golden Knights went 6-5 and 3-2 in league for second place en route to a CIF Southern Section Western Division playoff appearance. "With 17- and 18-year-olds, if you have teams on your schedule that they don't know or haven't played, or aren't in their area, they're not always gonna give them the respect they should. One thing I know is they're gonna give West Ranch the respect they deserve now. I know they're gonna give Paso Robles and Venice the respect they deserve. I think that's to our advantage."