NEWBERG, Ore. -- Football season is underway once again as the Bruins' program opens its 2022 campaign with a road test against Redlands. Coach Chris Casey and his staff enter their tenth year together and their ninth on the field this season as they continue to build championship players and people at Fox.

The Bruins have faced off against the Bulldogs six times prior and will be looking for their third win of the series this weekend in Redlands, Calif. Redlands won the SCIAC in 2021 and made an NCAA playoff appearance where they were eliminated from the postseason by the Bruins' Yamhill rival, Linfield.

The Bruins finished second in the conference last year and will return five All-Northwest Conference players for the 2022 season, including the Bruins' projected starting QB, Haiden Schaan, Schaan's deep threat, Leon Johnson III, and the Bruins' right tackle, Zach Luworo.

On defense, Fox will have two all-conference players back with Anthony Pasion up front and Justin Montijo patrolling the alleys.

The Bruins also bring back the bulk of their starting lineman on both sides of the ball, as well as the majority of the skill position players and defensive backs. The Bruins' roster has plenty of breakout stars from 2021 that are back, as well as fifth-year veteran leaders like Chad Bletko, Schaan, Montijo, Ryan Peters, and Pasion to push the team even higher in 2022.

The matchup should favor Fox in terms of returning starters, as the Bulldogs will be turning to a new quarterback, two freshmen on the offensive line, and new starters at the receiver positions as well. Redlands does bring back their starting running back from last season's matchup.

On defense, the Bulldogs bring back plenty of veteran talent with upperclassmen plugged in as projected starters for nearly every role on defense.

The matchup might well come down to special teams which was a particular strength for Fox in 2021. The Bruins' top punt and kick returner, Montijo, was named first team all-conference for his work as a returner and led all of NCAA football - not just D-III - in return yardage for the first six weeks of 2021. The Bruins will need to lean on a new leg for kicking and punting in Ethan Hoffmann but the Bulldogs are in the same position this season.

Kick off is set for 7:05 in Redlands and live coverage links will be made available on the Bruins' schedule page.