High school football: Check out our experts' Week 0 predictions

Plenty of high school football teams throughout the Lower Hudson Valley will be getting a head start and kicking off the 2023 football season with Week 0 matchups.

There are a few rivalry games, interstate competition and clashes with Section 9 teams that add to the intrigue of Labor Day weekend, and many others good games on the schedule.

Here are some of the top games to watch, along with picks for every Week 0 game.

Panas at Lakeland

Friday, 2 p.m.

District rivals Panas and Lakeland will open things up with the first high school football game of 2023 between two Section 1 teams. The Hornets will look to defend their home turf and extend their winning streak over the Panthers to five-straight.

Keep an eye on opposing star playmakers. Lakeland quarterback Grady Leonard threw for 1,545 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, and added 239 rushing yards with a pair of touchdowns last season. For Panas, Travis Carlucci is a versatile athlete that ran for 1,221 yards and 21 touchdowns on 114 carries, and even helped out in the passing game with 646 yards and six touchdowns.

Mike's pick: Lakeland over Panas

Eugene's pick: Lakeland over Panas

Newburgh Free Academy at New Rochelle

Friday, 5 p.m.

The reigning Section 9 champs are headed down to New Rochelle for a marquee rematch with the Huguenots. Last year, Newburgh Free Academy was hampered by the absence of current Rutgers receiver Deondre Johnson and lost this season-opening matchup to New Rochelle, 15-7.

While Johnson has graduated, the Goldbacks return two-way standout Tajir Walker and Section 9 lineman of the year Fabian Rhoden. New Rochelle has some stars as well, including program-record setter Corey Dawson, who carved up the Goldbacks last season, and tackling machine Taylor Rhett. Expect another gritty showdown.

Mike's pick: Newburgh Free Academy over New Rochelle

Eugene's pick: New Rochelle over Newburgh Free Academy

Horace Greeley at Ossining

Friday, 6 p.m.

They've traded wins and losses in each of the last two years, and both games were decided by five or fewer points, so expect another hard-fought battle. Horace Greeley is making its return to a traditional Section 1 Class A schedule after spending the last few seasons going independent. The Quakers are eager to make a grand entrance in their return and will be looking to make a statement.

Ossining will try to emerge victorious once again. Although the Pride graduated a large senior class, there are some key holdovers, including two-way standout Anthony Lofaro, who had a team-high 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Quakers last season.

Mike's pick: Horace Greeley over Ossining

Eugene's pick: Horace Greeley over Ossining

Somers at Ramapo (N.J.)

Friday, 6:30 p.m.

These are two programs with plenty of pride in their winning culture, and they'll both be in the running for some championship hardware by season's end. For now, it's a big matchup between New York and New Jersey football.

Both teams will be breaking in some new starters this season. Ramapo will have to replace a combined 18 starters on both sides of the ball. Reigning Class A state champion Somers also had its share of roster turnover, albeit not to that extent, and will hope that a sturdy defense will give the Tuskers enough time to break in new starters and players taking up bigger responsibilities.

Mike's pick: Somers over Ramapo

Eugene's pick: Somers over Ramapo

Stepinac at Baylor School (Tenn.)

Friday, 7 p.m.

There won't be any warmups for the Crusaders. They'll be diving into the deep end to start the season with a trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee to take on defending state champ Baylor School, which was tabbed as the consensus No. 1 team in Tennessee to start the season.

It'll be Baylor's third game of the season, so it's had some time to shake off the rust behind Division I-committed wide receiver Amari Jefferson (Alabama), tight end Max LeBlanc (Ohio State) and quarterback Whit Muschamp (Vanderbilt).

Stepinac will be representing New York as Maxpreps' No. 1-ranked team in the state. It has plenty of returning talent and some stars of its own in the secondary, with Super 11 selections Samuel Madu and Deonte Douglas, which will provide for an interesting matchup. It'll be a big test for the Crusaders, but a valuable opportunity for players to make a name for themselves on an individual and team-wide level.

Mike's pick: Baylor over Stepinac

Eugene's pick: Baylor over Stepinac

Iona Prep at Bergen Catholic (N.J.)

Saturday, at 1 p.m.

Last year, Iona Prep earned a statement victory in an epic back-and-forth shootout over Don Bosco Prep. Can the Gaels score another win against a New Jersey power this season? Bergen Catholic has its eyes on a third-straight state title and enters the 2023 season as the consensus favorite to finish on top.

It'll be a big test for an Iona Prep team that also has championship goals. Georgia commit Nyier Daniels anchors the line, while Rutgers-bound speedster Kaj Sanders sets the tone on the ground. Iona Prep has some question marks to answer at the skill positions, but the Gaels have the personnel up front to rumble with anybody. If the offensive line can pave the way, or its loaded front seven can keep the pressure up, the Gaels can make it interesting.

Mike's pick: Bergen Catholic over Iona Prep

Eugene's pick: Iona Prep over Bergen Catholic

Rye at Harrison

Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Everybody in the Rye and Harrison communities had their Labor Day weekend plans lined up once the 2023 high school football schedule came out. Harrison emerged on top in last year's edition of "The Game," picking up its first win over the Garnets since 2012. Both teams are in lohud's preseason top 10 football rankings.

The Garnets have depth and size across the board, and several playmakers to watch for, like A.J. Miller, Jake Kessner and returning all-state lineman Charlie Saurack. The Huskies lost some size upfront, but retain quarterback Marco Citro, running back Christian Barchella, standout receiver Chris McLaughlin and lineman Gianluca Santarelli, who had four sacks in last year's win.

Mike's pick: Rye over Harrison

Eugene's pick: Rye over Harrison

Brewster at John Jay-Cross River

Saturday, 6 p.m.

The Wolves and Bears will be among the few teams to play a league game to kick off the 2023 season. It'll have important implications down the line, and it'll be an early test for newcomers and returning players.

Brewster and John Jay both graduated some key playmakers from last season, and while they've gotten to see some promising flashes from younger players last season, it'll be interesting to see how they handle larger responsibilities in a hurry. There's still plenty of passion for the sport and athletes to go around on both sides, so it'll be interesting to see how the roles and the game shake out.

Mike's pick: John Jay-Cross River over Brewster

Eugene's pick: John Jay-Cross River over Brewster

Quick picks

THURSDAY

Yorktown at Poly Prep, 6 p.m.

Mike's pick: Yorktown

Eugene's pick: Yorktown

FRIDAY

Sleepy Hollow at Morristown-Beard (N.J.), 1:30 p.m.

Mike's pick: Sleepy Hollow

Eugene's pick: Sleepy Hollow

Hastings at Putnam Valley, 6 p.m.

Mike's pick: Putnam Valley

Eugene's pick: Putnam Valley

FDR-Hyde Park (Section 9) at John Jay-East Fishkill, 7 p.m.

Mike's pick: John Jay-East Fishkill

Eugene's pick: John Jay-East Fishkill

Mahopac at Goshen (Section 9), 7 p.m.

Mike's pick: Mahopac

Eugene's pick: Mahopac

Haldane at Dover (Section 9), 7 p.m.

Mike's pick: Haldane

Eugene's pick: Haldane

SATURDAY

Byram Hills at Briarcliff/Hamilton, noon

Mike's pick: Byram Hills

Eugene's pick: Byram Hills

Yonkers Force at Albertus Magnus, noon

Mike's pick: Yonkers Force

Eugene's pick: Yonkers Force

St. Dominic's at Yonkers Brave, noon

Mike's pick: St. Dominic's

Eugene's pick: St. Dominic's

North Rockland at Monroe-Woodbury (Section 9), 1 p.m.

Mike's pick: North Rockland

Eugene's pick: North Rockland

Chester Academy (Section 9) at Bronxville, 1 p.m.

Mike's pick: Bronxville

Eugene's pick: Bronxville

Irvington at Ardsley, 1:30 p.m.

Mike's pick: Ardsley

Eugene's pick: Ardsley

Tuckahoe at Port Chester, 1:30 p.m.

Mike's pick: Tuckahoe

Eugene's pick: Tuckahoe

Kellenberg Memorial at Arlington, 1:30 p.m.

Mike's pick: Arlington

Eugene's pick: Arlington

Valhalla at Rye Neck, 1:30 p.m.

Mike's pick: Valhalla

Eugene's pick: Valhalla

Washingtonville (Section 9) at Poughkeepsie, 2 p.m.

Mike's pick: Washingtonville

Eugene's pick: Washingtonville

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: High school football: lohud experts' Week 0 predictions