The wait is nearly over.

“We’ve been in the gym, out in the field every week for as long as I can remember. Ever since the season ended last year,” said Chase Spencer, a senior defensive back for Shaker.

A long offseason filled with a lot of hard work culminates into this opportunity.

“We've been working hard as a team. Our chemistry, strength and everything has just come in a big way,” said Ihsaan Alozie, a senior running back for Shenendehowa.

Alozie and his Plainsmen teammates are ready to kick off a new high school football season, when they visit Shaker for a Week 0 Class AA showdown on Spectrum News 1.

“They're a tough football team, and we know they're going to be well prepared,” said Brian Clawson, head coach for Shenendehowa. “We're going to be pretty well prepared ourselves.”

While Shen’s season ended in the State Regionals in a 28-14 loss to Carmel last year, Shaker’s run ended in the Section 2 semifinals to CBA in a 28-0 defeat.

With numerous starters returning on both sides of the ball, Clawson says this will be a senior-led team. It’s something Shaker head coach Greg Sheeler is also emphasizing for his group.

“It's a very difficult season to be successful in the Class AA. It takes a lot of hard work. So they've really been pushing our underclassmen to follow,” Sheeler said.

While the Blue Bison and the Plainsmen have always had quite the battles over the years, Shen has gotten the better of Shaker in its last four meetings. Shen defeated Shaker last year in the regular season 21-12.

“They're going to score, and we know that. But we got to stay together. We got to be ready to score as well,” Spencer said.

“Those are the kind of games we're going to have all season long,” Alozie said. “So having it [Week 0] just lets us set the pace for how the whole season is going to go.”

It’s the first of many hurdles for both teams this season as they look to contend for a Section 2 championship once again. Kickoff is set of 7 p.m. Friday at Arthur Walker Field at Shaker High School.