Grant Conliffe gets the nod at quarterback after throwing for 839 yards and five touchdowns last season. Chase Porter is the leading returning rusher with 317 yards and three scores.
Frye said the offense is still a work in progress, but a strong defense should help give it time to mature.
"Our defense is a pretty good defense. Our defense is good enough to win in our conference," Frye said. "We just have to mature our offense. But the more we play it, the better we're getting at it. We saw flashes in our scrimmage (against Mt. St. Joseph) that we could be a good offense. On Saturday, we'll see how far we've come.
"The skill positions are learning. We have kids that make things happen if we can get ball to them."
Offensive struggles for Hanover
Like Centre, Hanover struggled on offense last year, averaging 18.2 points and 282.5 yards per game. And in the preseason, Hanover was picked seventh in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Panthers' main weapon is quarterback Tyler Thiems.
Thiems was all-Heartland Conference last season after catching 29 passes for 534 yards and four scores and rushing 53 times for 138 yards. He also went 61 of 113 passing for 623 yards and five touchdowns while splitting time at quarterback with Josh Elbert. Frye expects Thiems to play just at receiver Saturday.
"Thiems is one of the better wideouts," he said. "They have four or five quarterbacks, and in their scrimmage they tried them all.
"They have good running backs. They're freshmen, but pretty good. And they have a good offensive line that has some maturity. They're all upperclassmen."
On defense, the Panthers return senior defensive lineman Luke Keller, who earned first team all-conference honors after registering 51 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss with two sacks last year.
Centre's defense is led by preseason All-American Adam Hay, who was fifth in the nation in tackles last year, and is one of seven returning starters.
Saturday's game is also the first under the lights at Centre in 45 years. So that makes the opener even more special for the Colonels.
"They're real excited. They're at the bit," Centre coach Andy Frye. "I'm thrilled for them, and I think it will be a great evening."
Centre's 1968 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship team will be honored at halftime, and Frye hopes to have every home opener be a night game where a former Centre team is honored.
