Football is back and we take a look at the marquee games for Week 1 of the prep football season, starting with the granddaddy of them all – at least on the Harbor – the Myrtle Street Rivalry.

Hoquiam at Aberdeen

7 p.m. Friday at Stewart Field, Aberdeen

Players to watch: Hoquiam – Zander Jump QB/DB; Dominic Standstipher RB/LB; Trevor Turpin OL/DL. Aberdeen – Grady Springer QB/DB; Aiden Watkins RB/LB; JaBron Brooks OL/DL.

It’s hard to believe there is a better way to kick off the 2023 football season than reigniting one of the most storied rivalries in state history.

When Hoquiam and Aberdeen meet at Stewart Field on Friday it will represent the 118th meeting between the two schools in the annual Myrtle Street Rivalry.

Aberdeen enters the season with plenty of size and experience on both sides of the line, led by linemen JaBron Brooks, Paul Baltazar and Jadon Roehrborn – each of whom stand over 6-foot-4 and have a combined weight of 961 pounds – posing major match-up problems for any team they face.

The big Cats up front should open plenty of holes for quarterback Grady Springer – who took over the starting duties in Week 3 of last season – and company to maneuver through.

Hoquiam enters 2023 with its most experienced group of players in years, led by four-year starting quarterback Zander Jump and 1A Evergreen all-league lineman Trevor Turpin.

A large portion of the Grizzlies’ upperclassmen played significant varsity minutes as freshman and sophomores during some lean COVID years that saw the roster dip below 20 players.

After losing six straight games to Hoquiam, Aberdeen has claimed the last two Myrtle Street matchups by a combined score of 70-8, including a 40-0 rout last season.

DAILY WORLD FILE PHOTO Elma quarterback Carson Studer and his Eagles teammates kick off the 2023 season against Centralia on Friday in Centralia.

Elma at Centralia

7 p.m. Friday at Tiger Stadium, Centralia

Players to watch: Elma – Carter Studer QB; Isaac Phillips FB/MLB; Tanner Thompson C/DT. Centralia – Landen Jenkins QB; Terrell Sanders QB.

Elma is arguably one of the most intriguing teams on the Harbor this season as the Eagles have a talented quarterback in Carter Studer, who enters his fourth year as a starter and has a full year of experience with the Eagles spread-shotgun offense.

Elma also decided to go with two coaches this season as coordinators Larry Raynes and Casey Doyle will share the duties after former head coach Ron Clark retired from coaching in the summer.

Running back Issac Phillips, who led Elma in rushing last season, returns to the backfield for his senior season and will run behind a line led by all-leaguer Tanner Thompson.

Centralia went through a coaching change after going 0-9 last season and figure to get two talented quarterbacks in Landen Jenkins and Terrell Sanders involved in the offense.

Aside from that, the Tigers are thin and lack depth and are likely looking at a finish near the bottom of the pack in the 2A Evergreen Conference.

DAILY WORLD FILE PHOTO Montesano quarterback Jaxson Wilson (10) and running back Gabe Bodwell, second from left, will lead the Bulldogs into a season-opening game against Black Hills on Friday in Montesano.

Black Hills at Montesano

7 p.m. Friday at Jack Rottle Field, Montesano

Players to watch: Black Hills – Jaxsen Beck QB; Maddox Hodge WR/DB; Max Whitehall OL/DL. Montesano – Jaxson Wilson QB/LB; Gabe Bodwell RB/DL; Cam Taylor OL/DL.

After what happened last season, it’s a safe bet Montesano had this one circled on the calendar for awhile.

Black Hills, coming off a 1-8 season a year prior, upset Montesano in last year’s season opener in Tumwater, stunning prep fans across the region.

Montesano enters the season with a new quarterback as senior Jaxson Wilson will start after the graduation of co-league offensive MVP Jayden McElravy.

Veteran head coach Terry Jensen’s well-oiled machine of a program posseses some top-tier 1A talent in running back/defensive lineman Gabe Bodwell and offensive/defensive lineman Cam Taylor. Bodwell will likely get plenty of chances to carry the ball in 2023 and both figure to be prominent on what should be another stingy Monte defense.

The Wolves are led by quarterback Jaxsen Beck, who enters his third season as a starter but lost many weapons after Black Hills graduated six of its seven top receivers from last year.

Lineman Max Whitehall – who is listed at 6-foot-2, 260 pounds – could also present some matchup problems for the Bulldogs in the trenches.

Pe Ell-Willapa Valley at Mossyrock

7 p.m. Friday at Mossyrock High School

Players to watch: PWV – Blake Howard RB/LB; Cody Strozyk TE/LB. Mossyrock – Easton Kolb QB/DB; Hunter Isom TE/LB; Marshall Brockway FB/DL.

The Nate Smith era begins on Friday as Pe Ell-Willapa Valley takes on the Mossyrock Vikings in the season opener on at Mossyrock High School.

The new-look Titans are a bit younger entering the season after a trip to the state seminfinals with a talented team in 2022.

Smith, entering his first season as varsity head coach after a long stint at the helm of the Willlapa Valley Junior High School team, will add some new wrinkles to the offense in hopes of utilizing the talents of players such running back Blake Howard and tight end Cody Strozyk, both of whom figured prominently into the offense a season ago.

Tyson Portmann, Nathan Fluke and Brody Ritzman were in a three-way battle for the Titans’ starting quarterback slot, which had yet to be determined in mid-August.

Mossyrock is coming off a dominant 10-1 season and 1B Southwest (8-man) League title and are taking on the Titans in an 11-man contest after advancing to the 1B State quarterfinals last season.

The Vikings pose a threat in the passing game with quarterback Easton Kolb and tight end Hunter Isom and will run the football with fullback Marshall Brockway, who is a load at 6-feet, 240 pounds.

Raymond-South Bend at Toledo

7 p.m. Friday at Toledo High School

Players to watch: RSB – Austin Snodgrass QB/LB; Ferrill Johnson RB/DB; Robby Stigall RB/LB. Toledo – Eli Weeks QB; Jaih Tilton OL/DL; Bayron Rodriguez OL/DL.

Raymond-South Bend comes into the 2023 season with the highest expectations in the combo team’s four-year history. And with good reason, the Ravens return several key players from last year’s team that advanced to the 2B State quarterfinals.

Leading the way will be senior quarterback Austin Snodgrass, one of the top running quarterbacks in the class last season with the speed to break long runs at any given moment.

Snodgrass will be joined in the backfield by Ferrill Johnson and Robby Stigall, both of whom figure to get plenty of carries this season behind an experienced line led by First Team all-leaguer Branson Williams.

Line play may be key against a Toledo team that also posseses experience up front in standouts Jaih Tilton and Bayron Rodriguez, but starts a sophomore quarterback in Eli Weeks and is heavy in underclassmen at the skill positions.

Other games

Ocosta at Toutle Lake – Last season’s 2B Central Lower League champs open the season with an 8-man game against the Toutle Lake Ducks at 7 p.m. Friday in Toutle Lake.

Ilwaco at North Beach – The Hyaks and their power-running game look to open the season with a win when North Beach hosts Ilwaco at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Taholah at Lummi Nation – The Chitwhins will look to open the season with something it was unable to do in 2022 – win a game. Taholah takes on Lummi Nation in an 8-man game at 3 p.m. Saturday.