High school football season starts a week from Thursday, with Hopkins, Martin and Wayland all shooting for making improvements on identical 2-7 campaigns a year ago.

Wayland and Martin will get under way at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, when both squads will be at home. The Wildcats will entertain Grand Rapids Union. The Clippers will on their home field against Fennville for a contest billed as “Parents’ Night,” a designation usually assigned to games much later in the season.

Hopkins has the most interesting season opener, a 4:30 matinee matchup Friday, Aug. 26, with Newaygo at the new Davenport University Stadium. Tickets for this game are pegged at $10 apiece, double the usual admission.

Gone after a four-year run is the renewed neighborhood rivalry season opener between Hopkins and Wayland. Though the Vikings won all four of the contests, from 2012 through 2015, they decided to make a change.

Wayland has the most interesting opponent for the second week, playing at Adrian on Friday evening, Sept. 2, during Labor Day weekend.

Hopkins in the second week also has a long-distance opponent with Manistee, but will be on its home field.

Martin’s second game will be at home against Hartford.

PHOTO: “Border Wars” T-shirts and other paraphernalia were selling a year ago at the Wayland High School football entrance, but the four-year grid rivalry renewal was halted after four years. Wayland will be host to Union for its opener and Hopkins will take on Newaygo Friday, Aug. 26, at Davenport University.