• Related: Images from the first half of the first day of high school football practice

Even in the pouring rain on the first day of the new season, the Saline football team ran its practice like a well-oiled machine Monday.

The Hornets spent the latter half of their second session running plays 11-on-11, and hardly looked like a team on its first day of practice.

A player on the sideline at Hornets Stadium held up a number, and players sprang into action with a snap -- running routes, blocking and dropping into coverage. After a whistle ended plays, it was only a few seconds before the ball was snapped again. On the scoreboard, a clock counted down five minute increments.

And Monday, the first official day of high school football practices across Michigan, came after a nine-month offseason program when Saline players were working with one another three days per week or more.

“I’ve never played on a college program, but it’s that kind of feeling and expectation that coach Palka brings,” senior defensive lineman John Smutny said.

It’s only year two of Joe Palka’s time as the Hornets head coach, and already the expectations are high. That's because last year, the program recorded its first 10-win season, and got two wins from a state title game.

But the Hornets may have gotten ahead of themselves last season, and Palka isn’t accelerating the timeline for his program to become one of the best in the state.

“I think it probably maybe falsely raises expectations a little bit," Palka said of last year. "In my experience, to really win a state championship, or to get to that level is really a five or six-step process. It’s not a one or two-year process.

Three hours after Saline wrapped things up for the day, the rain had stopped at Huron High School’s Riverbank Stadium in time for a new coaching regime to take charge.

New coach Craig Jobe coached his first official River Rats practice Monday afternoon, where he takes over a team that went 0-9 last year and has four wins in the last three years.

How did the new team look?

“It’s hard to say,” Jobe said. “People look good without pads. I’m still waiting to get the pads on, we should get a good feel for who we are.”

Jobe, a teacher at Huron, said he installed most of the offense and defense during his team camp a few weeks back. Monday, he was able to do 11-on-11’s with both teams working on plays. There were some teachable moments, along with some moments of promise on what’s hoped to be an improved team.

About 25 players were on the field with the varsity Monday afternoon, although Jobe said he hopes to add 10-15 more who didn’t have their paperwork submitted in time to practice.

A squad of 35-40 players would mark an uptick from last year’s squad, and be a good first step toward turning the program around.

“We’ve got to work on our numbers, we know that,” Jobe said. “Numbers were down last year, so we’re just trying to get some depth.”

Kyle Austin covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kyleaustin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2535. Follow him on Twitter @KAustin_AA.