The Bainbridge Spartans will take the field for their first football game of the season against the Vikings of North Kitsap High.
The non-conference matchup is 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at North Kitsap High, 1780 NE Hostmark St., Poulsbo.
The Vikings, coached by Jeff Weible, finished the regular season at 7-0 last year and came to within one game of reaching the state tournament. The Vikings were Olympic League Champions last year, but fell to Orting 37-14 in the Class 2A West Central District tournament.
The Spartans are coming off a down year.
The team finished 1-9, and tasted victory just once in the 2013 campaign, with a 59-14 rout of Franklin early last November.
The team also lost its 1,000-yard rusher, running back Taylor Wilson, who finished the season with 187 carries for 1,023 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wilson wrapped up his high school career as the Spartans’ seventh-best all-time season rusher since 1984.
But this year’s returners include some top performers on both sides for BHS: senior Max Thomas Jr. (OL/LB) who finished last year with 49 unassisted and nine assisted tackles; senior and QB Casey Brink; and junior Sam Wysong (18 carries for 60 yards last year, and 20 unassisted and two assisted tackles).
Two other Spartan teams will see action this week.
The Bainbridge girls volleyball team is scheduled to travel to Everett for a volleyball tournament at Mariner High on Saturday, Sept. 6.
Also Saturday, the junior varsity and varsity girls Spartan soccer teams will play against Liberty High in Renton.
The JV game begins at 5, and the varsity game follows at 7 p.m.