There are eight games left in the regular season, then the slate is wiped clean for the playoffs, but the Arlington High School football team's future starts with Friday's game against Class 3A No. 1 Bishop Chatard.

"It's a huge game when you play the No. 1 team in the state," coach Rob Patchett said. "We have to get this. We're gaining some respect, but we're not going to get it from (most) programs until we beat the Chatards and Cathedrals. (Chatard) is not a typical 3A school. We're in the best 5A sectional in the state and as good as (Chatard) is, there are more athletic teams in our sectional.

"This is a measuring stick."

Arlington (1-0) will find out if it's ready to be competitive in Sectional 5, which includes preseason No. 3 Hamilton Southeastern; preseason No. 4 North Central; Lawrence North, which is receiving votes in the poll; and four-time defending state champion Warren Central. Arlington lost to Bishop Chatard, 49-7, last season and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Franklin Central, 37-13.

The Golden Knights avenged their only Indianapolis Public Schools Athletic Conference loss last year with a 41-9 victory over Tech on Friday. Five of their six touchdowns covered 32 or more yards, with tailback David Taylor rushing for 204 yards and two scores on 15 carries.

Patchett was happier with his defense holding Tech to 127 offensive yards.

"We've got big strong kids across the front, and our new scheme allows us to be more aggressive and fly to the ball," said Patchett, who lost his best lineman, Earl Rice, for the rest of the season after he was shot three times in a drive-by shooting over the weekend. "We played really well defensively (and) I think we can get a lot better (offensively).

"(But) it's a lot nicer starting 1-0 than 0-1 (as in the previous four seasons). The kids are more eager to work (but) they also understand that this whole thing is a long journey. To meet our goals we've got to win them all."