PARKERSBURG - Herm Edwards served as an NFL head coach for 128 games from 2001-2008. And he was known for his passionate public addresses.

Yet, even Edwards couldn't imagine what it must've taken to give a pregame speech in Parkersburg on Friday.

"That's tough. It's an emotional night, and then you add national television?" Edwards told the Courier prior to kickoff.

Yes, Aplington-Parkersburg's 30-14, season-opening win over rival Dike-New Hartford was overflowing with emotion. An estimated 3,500 fans were in attendance, and millions more watched at home on ESPN. For the Falcons, playing without Ed Thomas' lessons within earshot may never feel completely comfortable. Yet, that's an adjustment A-P must make in the wake of Thomas' tragic murder on June 24.

So Friday's season-opener felt a little unusual at its outset.

"Obviously, it's a very different night - special in a way and sad in another," former A-P star and current NFLer Jared DeVries said in a phone conversation.

"There's a lot to remember about Coach and what he stood for. Obviously, one night of football can't sum that up. Coach meant a lot more than just being a football coach - he taught life lessons."

Thomas' lessons, values and philosophies were apparent throughout Parkersburg on Friday. In the stadium stands, fans gained strength from each other. On the field, A-P players charged forward resiliently.

"I hope (Ed Thomas) was proud of us," senior Alex Hornbuckle said of Thomas.

Even the visiting Wolverines kept slugging away for four quarters and added a late highlight, courtesy of Joe Weber's 86-yard scoring sprint.

"It was like baby steps," new A-P co-coach Al Kerns said of the season-opener. "I hope this helps" the community.

"It's another step forward," said fellow co-coach Jon Wiegmann.

"They've just got the weight of the world on their shoulders," noted Dike-New Hartford coach Don Betts of the Falcons. "I wish them the best."

Ed Thomas' words often shook rafters. That's hard to replicate.

Somehow, Kerns and Wiegmann found a way.

"Fellas," Kerns told his team afterward, "what you did to get up off the ground and win this football game … it means a lot.

"I want to thank you. We love you guys."

In Room 402 of Aplington-Parkersburg's immaculate new high school, new athletic director Aaron Thomas has a framed poster commemorating the school's four NFL alumns. The poster reads: "We know the value of a coach."

Friday night hinted at the value of Ed Thomas' words, as well as the legacy he left behind in Parkersburg.

"Coach will live on forever," said DeVries, "in the hearts of many."

"He was the rock when tragedy struck this community," Edwards noted of Thomas, the 2005 NFL High School Coach of the Year. "He stood tall, he stayed strong through all that - and that's what coaches do.

"When the book of your life is written, what's it gonna say? Tonight it's talkin'. It's a celebration of what he's done."

Dike-New Hartford 0 0 0 14 - 14

Aplington-P'burg 0 22 8 0 - 30

A-P - Alex Hornbuckle 1 run (kick failed)

A-P - Austin Ryan 16 run (Jimmy Clark run)

A-P - Hornbuckle's 3 run (Hornbuckle run)

A-P - Hornbuckle 9 run (Jason Grill pass from Coy Wiegmann)

D-NH - Joe Weber 5 run (Matt Dove kick)

D-NH - Weber 86 run (James Young kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

DNH A-P

First downs 14 22

Rushes-yards 21-181 58-451

Passing yards 172 0

Comp-Att-Int 14-32-5 0-3-0

Punts.-avg. 2-46.0 3-30.0

Return yards 27 76

Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-2

Penalties-yards 7-36 1-5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD - Joe Weber 13-153, Mike Weidemann 2-1, Eric Joblinske 6-26.

APLINGTON-PARKERSBURG - Alex Hornbuckle 33-196, Alex Kreimeyer 3-7, Austin Ryan 9-172, Jason Grill 2-4, Alex McDaniel 1-4, Jake Everts 7-45, Coy Wiegmann 3-23.

Passing

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD - Dove 14-32-5, 172 yards.

APLINGTON-PARKERSBURG - Wiegmann 0-3-0, 0 yards.

Receiving

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD - Weber 2-7, Weidemann 5-85, Joey Gorby 4-53, Joblinske 3-22.

APLINGTON-PARKERSBURG - none.