What a way to start the season.

The Bainbridge Spartans will once again square off against the North Kitsap Vikings for this year’s season opener in varsity prep football at home in Bainbridge’s Memorial Stadium.

The Vikings, who finished with an 10-1 record last year and were Olympic League champions, visit the Rock for the non-conference matchup. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1.

North Kitsap easily dispatched Bainbridge in last season’s opener, 52-7.

Spartans fans should expect a rough night from the gridders from the other side of the bridge.

“While the Vikings lost 27 seniors from last year’s Olympic League Championship team, the cupboards are certainly not bare,” Vikings Coach Jeff Weible (overall record at North Kitsap, 45-19) told the North Kitsap Herald.

“Our JV team only lost one game and our freshmen were undefeated. Many of those players got tons of varsity action and are now ready to step up to more time on Friday nights and continue the strong tradition of excellence on and off the field,” Weible added. “With the addition of transferred players Aiden Allsop and Tyler Sloman from Kingston, we should again be favored to compete for a league title and playoff berth.”

Returning players who may make an impact for the Vikings: Ryan Brooks, All-League offensive linebacker (senior, 6-foot-2, 240 pounds); Dax Solis, All-League running back (senior, 6-foot-1, 220); and Connor Westby, All-League linebacker (senior, 5-foot-11, 215).