The Emmett and Weiser football teams have made their annual matchup a season-opening tradition.

For the third straight year, the two teams will kick off their nonconference schedules against each other. Game time is 7 Friday night at Emmett.

Weiser has won the last two matchups, including a 46-19 romp in 2007.

The Wolverines return five offensive starters and three defensive starters from a team that advanced to the 3A state quarterfinals.

This will be the first of two games against 3A Snake River Valley opponents for Emmett. The Huskies (2-7 in 2007) also play two-time 3A SRV champ Fruitland before starting 4A Southern Idaho Conference play.

JEROME AT MOUNTAIN HOME

Separated by about 70 miles of Interstate 84, they share the same colors (black and orange) and the same nickname (Tigers), but will meet for the first time since Mountain Home beat Jerome in 2003 and 2004.

Mountain Home enters the season with something to prove and a chip on its shoulder after missing out on the 2007 4A state playoffs because of a tiebreaker.

FRUITLAND AT LA GRANDE, ORE.

In the past two seasons, only two teams have managed to beat the Grizzlies, and one of those teams happens to be La Grande.

In 2006, the Tigers knocked off Fruitland 22-20. It was the only loss for the Grizzlies on their way to a 3A state championship. Last season, Fruitland routed La Grande 56-0.

HOMEDALE AT VALE, ORE.

The Trojans went 1-3 in nonconference games last season, but will try to take advantage of seven offensive and six defensive returners when they open against Vale.

Expect Homedale senior Rodrigo Villarreal to set the tone for the Trojans at running back.

MCCALL-DONNELLY AT OROFINO

McCall-Donnelly opens its season with the first of four nonconference games this season.

It also will be the Vandals' first game under new coach Mike Jimenez. Orofino was the 2A state runner-up in 2007.

COLE VALLEY CHRISTIAN AT PAYETTE

Payette's only wins in 2007 were against nonconference opponents, and the Pirates hope to keep that streak alive against Cole Valley Christian.

The Chargers are coming off a 2-6 campaign and begin their second season at the 2A level.

GLENNS FERRY AT NAMPA CHRISTIAN

The Trojans are one of the top teams to watch at the 2A level in 2008 after advancing to the state semifinals last season.

Nampa Christian, which returns eight starters on offense and seven on defense, opened last season with a 19-6 win at Glenns Ferry.

FILER AT NEW PLYMOUTH

For the third straight season, the Pilgrims will start their schedule with a game against Filer.

Since 2006, New Plymouth has lost to the Wildcats by a combined score of 50-18.

BAKER CITY, ORE. AT PARMA

The Panthers have made one of the biggest turnarounds in 2A over the past two seasons.

After a 2-6 campaign in 2006, Parma went 8-2 and advanced to the state playoffs in 2007.

The Panthers return nearly all of their starters from a year ago.

GREENLEAF AT NOTUS

Though Notus has moved up to the 1A eight-man Division I, it opens the season against a familiar opponent from its time in Division II.

The Grizzlies had 23 players turn out for the season, including five returners.

COUNCIL AT SALMON RIVER

The 2006 1A Division I state champion (Council) meets the 2007 1A Division II state champion (Salmon River) when these two eight-man powers open the season in an intriguing nonconference game.

GARDEN VALLEY AT RIMROCK

Garden Valley is expected to be among the top teams in 1A Division II, but faces a big test as the Wolverines travel to Rimrock, which is among the favorites in 1A Division I.

CENTRAL CATHOLIC AT BISHOP KELLY (SATURDAY)

Central Catholic will fly from Portland to Boise with 70 players, 20 coaches and support staff. Bishop Kelly will dress 44 players, including 10 sophomores.

The game is the first meeting between the two schools. BK is scheduled to play at Central Catholic next season.

Last year, Central Catholic finished 8-5 with its fifth 6A state quarterfinal appearance in eight seasons at Oregon's largest classification.

Central Catholic averaged 32 points per game and returns three starters on offense and six on defense. The team's head coach, Steve Pyne, was an assistant at Emmett in the early 1990s.

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