Wayland’s varsity football team had a hugely successful season debut with a 40-7 victory at Hopkins.

It was the sixth time in the last 11 years that the neighborhood rivalry has been played, with the Wildcats scoring lots of points to win the last two times. They prevailed 42-25 a year ago.

Hopkins won all of the first four contests, in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, but two of them were decided by seven points or fewer.

Wayland jumped out to a 13-0 advantage in the first quarter and never looked back the rest of the way. They led 20-0 at the half and increased their lead to 34-0 at the end of the third period. The Vikings finally got on the scoreboard midway through the fourth quarter. Wayland’s first two TDs came on a fumble recovery return and a punt return.

The Wildcats will take on Holland Christian next Friday, Sept. 1, against an opponent that will join the O-K Gold Conference next year. Hopkins will renew its annual non-league rivalry contest with Allendale.