When Noblesville opens the 2009 football season Friday at home against Fishers, it will be well prepared.

The Millers had a chance to tune up for the Tigers by scrimmaging against what many are considering the state’s best. Ben Davis is ranked in the top 100 in a national poll.

“I love scrimmaging Ben Davis,” said Noblesville coach Lance Scheib. “Anytime you get a chance to compete against the very best, you need to do so.”

Scheib was happier with the way his team played against the Giants than last season, his first at Noblesville.

“The scrimmage was a great night for the Millers,” Scheib said. "I was pleased with how much more physical we were over last year on defense. I was excited to see how well our offense executed against one of the best programs in the Midwest.

“I just felt like we competed each play,” he added. “Our defense came downhill well, and our running backs ran hard.”

Noblesville gets right into its Hoosier Crossroads Conference schedule in its opener. Fishers finished third in the HCC last year with a 6-3 record, while the Millers were eighth at 3-6.

Both teams return quarterbacks who had solid seasons last year and showed improvement in the offseason. Noblesville junior Jake Bates and Fishers senior Alex Hines both attended high-profile camps over the summer.

After beating the Tigers the first two seasons that Fishers played varsity football, the Millers fell 31-6 last year in the first-ever game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“I think after playing Fishers last season, they have arrived as a team to beat in the HCC, and after seeing them on film, they are a lot better this year than they were last year” Scheib said. “We will need to play at our best to give ourselves a chance.”