After 3-6 and 2-7 campaigns a season ago, respectively, the Columbus and Highland football teams will square off to open up the new season on Friday night.

The Wildcats took that match-up last year, downing the Huskies 28-14 in Columbus.  This year, the game moves to Riverside, where the Huskies won 28-0 the last time the two teams played there.

For the Huskies, only one senior recorded any sort of statistic against Columbus last year; everyone else, including dual-threat quarterback Trey Lasek (who threw for 174 yards and rushed for 90 against the Wildcats), is returning.

For the Wildcats’ part, their run-heavy offense takes a hit, as the team’s two leading rushers from a season ago, Abel Mena and Nick Hernandez, were lost to graduation.  Only four passes were thrown in last year’s contest.

Kickoff for Friday’s game in Riverside is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.