On Thursday, the McLean Highlanders will travel down the road to Washington-Lee High School to play the first varsity football match of the school year.

In advance of this much-anticipated season-opener, McLean High School football coach Dennis Worek answered a few brief questions for Patch via email.

His complete responses have been copied verbatim from the original email.

How many starters are coming back?

Eleven

What's new this season?

The offense and defense we will be running.

What will be the same this season?

Our uniforms

Is there a team you're most worried about competing against?

Stone Bridge

Do you have a player who has really improved that you're excited to see in action?

John Burke, Gabe Sutherland, Bryan Morales

Any major injuries?

So far so good

Do you have any break-out player who will be a leader for this season?

John Burke, Gabe Sutherland

What are you most excited about?

Our team playing on the brand new turf in our stadium.

Have you decided on your starting quarterback? If so, could you tell us a little bit about him?

Still a battle between Danny Hecht and John Burke

Is your away game schedule more difficult than usual?

Yes

The first football game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington.

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Editor's Note: For all you Langley High School football fans out there, an identical set of questions was submitted on Aug. 15 to Coach John Howertown. We are still awaiting his responses. Langley will play its first game on Thursday evening at home against Herndon High School.