GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO)-- The class of 2012 treated the Tiger fans to a wonderful couple of playoff runs the past two years.

Now, the challenge for the Junction squad this fall is to overcome the shadow that those former players cast.

"I don't feel we're weakened by that at all," stated Tigers senior Everett Tucker on Tuesday.

In fact, Tucker believes that this year's team will be an equally good, or perhaps, better team than the 2012 squad.

"We've been in the weight room and we've been conditioning," Tucker said. "And these practices have been harder than last year. We've earned out way to the top."

In the eyes of head coach Robbie Owens, you can't replace players like Sean Rubalcaba and Jerreon Dennis, but you can shift the attention to the experienced offensive and defensive linemen.

"We're loaded up front, so we're going to put a lot on those guys," Owens said. "And we've got to have some young guys step up at the skill positions."

Grand Junction opens the season on Friday against Prairie View on Friday at Stocker Stadium. The Tigers are hosting a canned-food drive that night in what Coach Owens is calling the "Can-opener."

Please bring canned-food items to donate. The game kicks off at 7:00pm.