Although a game hasn't been played on it yet, Roosevelt football coach Lester Parrilla is already enjoying the benefits of the newly installed artificial turf at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

"I don't have to water it, line it or cut it," he said.

The first football game on the new surface will be Aug. 15, when the Rough Riders host Campbell to kick off the high school season.

This matchup was canceled last year after vandals stole copper wiring for the lights at Campbell's stadium. It's a home-and-home series, so Roosevelt is hosting the game this time around.

Vasconcellos Stadium was in dire need of a durable playing surface as it is the most heavily used venue for football on O'ahu. Roosevelt's stadium also is home field for McKinley, Farrington and Kaimuki football teams.

Also opening on Aug. 15 is defending Division I state champion Leilehua, which will travel to Radford. At Aloha Stadium, Kahuku will play Kamehameha.

On Aug. 16, the annual Father Bray Classic will feature Kamehameha-Maui against host 'Iolani. That game will be preceded by Waialua and Pac-Five.

Making its varsity debut Aug. 16 is Word of Life Academy, which will be in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's Division II. The Firebrands will play at Nanakuli. Both teams have sort of new coaches. John Lopes returns to coach the Golden Hawks, replacing Tai Apisa. Lopes previously coached at Nanakuli from 1990 to 1993. The Firebrands' coach is Joe Onosai, who coached Pac-Five in 2003. Before this season, WOLA players were with Pac-Five.

Three Hawai'i schools will be traveling to the Mainland.

Punahou will play Central Kitsap (Silverdale, Wash.) in the Emerald City Kickoff Classic at Qwest Field in Seattle on Sept. 6. Punahou played in the Classic in 2006, beating Eastlake (Wash.), 23-16.

Kamehameha will play at Davis of Kaysville, Utah, Sept. 4.

The farthest trip will be by Maui's King Kekaulike. It will play Bay High of Panama City, Fla., Aug. 29. It is believed to be the first time a Hawai'i high school football team will play east of the Mississippi River.