This was a game that was circled on everyone’s calendar. For years, as Bend High coach Matt Craven will tell you, this matchup could indicate who would reign as champion of the old Intermountain Conference.

It has been four years since Bend and Pendleton met on a football field. But on Friday night, they will renew their former IMC rivalry at Bend’s Punk Hunnell Stadium in the 2013 season opener for both teams.

Despite the traditions tying these two Class 5A programs together, for Craven, the first game of the new season has several unknowns.

“To be honest, Game 1 is always a little bit of a crapshoot as far as what they’re going to come out (with) and what they’re trying to do, what fronts they’re going to line up defensively,” says Craven, a former Lava Bear player in the early 1990s who is now in his second season as Bend’s head coach. “I’m sure they feel the same way about us.”

The Buckaroos do, according to second-year Pendleton coach Erik Davis. A 1994 Redmond High graduate who was a star quarterback for the Panthers, Davis actually played against Craven in the Bend-Redmond game of 1992. So he knows a few things about the traditions of Bend High football. (In 1997, the two future coaches crossed paths again as Oregon small-college football players, as Craven’s Linfield Wildcats fell to Davis’ Western Oregon Wolves 24-10).

“They’ve always been kind of a running-back factory, if you will,” Davis says. “They’ve always had an opportunity to kind of just pound it at you and utilize play action and move the pocket off of that run game. … Really, we know that in order for us to be successful, we’ve got to nullify the run, at least contain the run, and force them to throw the ball down the field.”

Craven, whose team went 2-7 in 2012 as the Lava Bears missed the state playoffs for the first time in eight years, hopes to have big contributions from three players in his backfield, all juniors and only one with quality varsity experience. But the power that returning all-league fullback Hunter McDonald brings, matched with the big-play potential of Jordan Neelon and Christian Johnson against a Pendleton team that allowed more than 31 points per game in 2012, provides Bend with a trio of backs that could springboard the Bears to a season-opening victory.

“If we get big nights out of those guys,” Craven says, “that means we’re grinding the ball up pretty good, and we’ll be just fine.”

The run-heavy scheme of Bend High, which has won the past four meetings with the Bucks, contrasts with the offense of Pendleton (3-7 in 2012), which tends to spread the field. Pendleton’s set of four receivers — three of whom are varsity returners — in combination with returning quarterback Chad McCoy is described by Davis as the “backbone of the offense.”

The Buckaroos’ spread formation does not necessarily mean more passing, Davis points out. He likes balance, aiming to maintain a 60-40 ratio between pass and run.

Still, no matter the opponent, Craven notes, the first game is about ironing out the wrinkles and working out the kinks.

“It’s normal Game 1. You want to be smooth and crisp with what you do,” Craven says. “You realize there’s going to be some hiccups, but the team that has the fewest amount of hiccups is probably going to be that team that’s going to win.”

Four years after their last matchup, Bend High, which is still in the Intermountain Conference, and Pendleton, which is now in the Columbia River Conference, meet on the football field, a former IMC rivalry renewed.

“I know we expect a pretty good crowd,” Davis says. “We expect a pretty well-coached ballclub, and we expect it to be a pretty hard-hitting game. We’ve been pounding and pounding each other and beating each other up, and we’re ready to go hit somebody else.”

Prep football this weekend, at a glance

Here’s a quick look at the rest of the games involving area teams on Friday, with last season’s records in parentheses:

Lebanon (5-6) at Mountain View (7-5), 7 p.m.: The Cougars have advanced to the state quarterfinals each of the past seven seasons, and in 2013, their journey back begins with Lebanon, out of the 5A Mid-Willamette Conference. The Cougars defeated the Warriors 35-12 at Lebanon in their 2012 season opener and return one of the deepest rosters at the skill positions coach Brian Crum has had during his six years with the program. With both a new coach and a new offensive scheme featuring more shotgun/spread formations, Lebanon looks for payback against Mountain View, which bested the Warriors in the quarterfinals of the 2011 state playoffs en route to the state title.

Redmond (11-1) at Sweet Home (7-3), 7 p.m.: A season after going 11-1 and advancing to the 5A state semifinals, things look different for the Panthers. Redmond boasts just five seniors at the top of a fairly young roster, but the Panthers will face a Sweet Home team in a similar situation. The reigning IMC champs visit the defending 4A Sky-Em League winners, who have just eight seniors. League champs go toe to toe, with Redmond looking to repeat last year’s 35-0 season-opening victory.

Summit (2-7) at North Eugene (2-7), 7 p.m.: Last season, the Storm needed extra time to put away the visiting Highlanders from the Midwestern Conference, winning 30-22 in triple overtime. Returning all-IMC wideout Tyler Mullen, who hauled in three catches for 62 yards and a touchdown in last year’s game against North Eugene, will look to lead the way for the Storm, which totaled just 63 points in nine games last season, the fewest in 5A.

Crook County (5-4) at Henley (2-7), 7 p.m.: In each of the past three seasons, the Cowboys have opened their schedule with a close victory over the Hornets from Klamath Falls, including a 20-14 decision in Prineville last year. Crook County piled up nearly 30 points per game in 2012, and with experienced linemen in senior Jason Williams and junior Zachary Smith, the Cowboys will look for more against a Henley team that allowed more than 28 points per contest. e_SClBMadras (5-6) at Stayton (1-8), 7 p.m.: With tailbacks Jered Pichette and Clayton Smith ready to pace the offense, the White Buffaloes could repeat last season’s decision against the Eagles from the Oregon West Conference, a 36-14 victory. Stayton finished last in its six-team league last season, but a roster loaded with juniors and seniors in 2013 has the Eagles hoping to rebuild and improve on both sides of the ball after being outscored by nearly 18 points per game.

Baker (11-1) at Ridgeview (6-4), 7 p.m.: It seems like a tall order to take on the reigning 4A state champions, but the Ravens boast a senior class of about 30 players, including Boomer Fleming, who ran for nearly 1,400 yards in 2012, and Jack Bowman, who racked up 492 yards receiving. Baker, which also won the state title in 2010, graduated a senior class that accounted for 11 of the 24 first-team 4A all-state positions in 2012. Back for this season, however, is Lukas Higgins, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound middle linebacker looking to slow down the Ridgeview run game.

McLoughlin (2-5) at Sisters (4-5), 7 p.m.: The Outlaws come off their best overall record since 2009, and with seasoned seniors in offensive lineman Lane Adams and running back Nathan Kaping, Sisters hopes to continue the upward trend against the Pioneers from Milton-Freewater, of the Greater Oregon League. The Outlaws will expect to deal with junior tailback Jeffrey Jones, a first-team all-league rusher in 2012, as well as second-team all-GOL linebacker Robert Burton.

Culver (1-7) at North Douglas (3-7), 7 p.m.: The Bulldogs have their best turnout for football in four years and return all-Tri-River Conference lineman Mitch Adams as well as wideout Juan Diaz and linebacker Austin Caldwell for 2013. Culver goes up against the Warriors from Drain, who allowed nearly 28 points per game last year while going 3-7 for the second straight season.