Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Corey Dettmann of Humboldt makes a play in the state semifinals last season.

Messenger-area football teams will stand under the Friday night lights for the first time this season tonight as the 2023 campaign gets under way.

Following a week of practice in intense heat and humidity, squads will get a bit of a reprieve, as temperatures dip into the upper-70s for opening night.

There will be three all-area area matchups in Week 1. Meanwhile, one of the big head-to-head contests will be the first meeting in three years between Humboldt and Spencer.

The Tigers went 7-3 last year and reached the playoffs, while the Wildcats reached their second consecutive state semifinal.

Southeast Valley heads to Manson Northwest Webster for the first matchup between the two programs since 2015.

South Central Calhoun travels to Pocahontas Area. Eight-man powers West Bend-Mallard and Newell-Fonda square off in Newell.

Spencer (0-0) at Humboldt (0-0)

The last meeting between these two squads was in 2020, when the TIgers prevailed in a tight 42-35 contest. Spencer has won the last three meetings and holds a 5-2 advantage since 2014, when Humboldt posted a 27-0 shutout.

The Wildcats took an early hit, as senior all-state running back Lance Coon suffered a broken finger. The standout will be sidelined a majority of the season.

Coon ran for 1,566 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago.

Junior quarterback Coen Matson will take over the reins at quarterback for departed senior Will Orness, who threw for 930 yards and eight scores in 2022. Orness also rushed for 500-plus yards and five TDs.

Corey Dettmann is the top offensive threat back after catching 34 balls for 500 yards and four touchdowns last fall.

The Tigers have the majority of their ground game back a year after rushing for 2,714 yards and 36 yards. Standout senior Adrian Carrillo returns in the backfield, a year after running for 1,204 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Spencer must replace the graduated Riley DeWitt, who had 16 touchdowns on the ground. Miles Robbins, just a junior, is already a standout linebacker and is expected to fill in offensively as well to help bridge the gap.

Spirit Lake (0-0) at Algona (0-0)

Both teams will likely be in the early season rankings. Spirit Lake is coming off a 10-1 season and a playoff run, while the Bulldogs were 4-5.

Junior Alex Manske, a high Div. I prospect, will look to build on a 1,688-yard throwing campaign with 14 touchdowns in 2022. Manske also ran for 407 yards and six TDs.

Senior Porter Reffer caught 11 balls for 364 yards and four scores.

Junior Caden Lundt is back behind center for Spirit Lake. Last year, Lundt threw for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Indians ran for 2,090 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2022. Leading rusher Bode Higgins, a junior, ran for 966 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Southeast Valley (0-0) at Manson Northwest Webster (0-0)

This will be the 10th meeting since 2008 between the two squads. The Jaguars ended a four-game Cougar win streak in 2015 with a 28-20 victory.

Senior Dalton Crouse threw for 473 yards a year ago, and junior Cale VanSickle tossed six touchdown passes. Crouse rushed for 240 yards, and junior Brady Hanson had 199 yards and three scores.

Junior Logan Moline is back behind center a year for MNW after throwing for 647 yards and seven scores. Moline also ran for two TDs.

Junior Kamden Birkey had 203 yards and two rushing touchdowns last season.

South Central Calhoun (0-0) at Pocahontas Area (0-0)

The Titans went just 4-5 last year, but plenty of players are back in the SCC stable for head coach Bryan Case.

Quarterback Gavin Batta had a standout junior campaign, throwing for 1,577 yards and 13 scores. Senior Brock Nattress returns as the groundhog, a year after running for 300 yards and nine TDs. Senior Keegan Soard caught 33 balls for 780 yards and nine touchdowns.

For the Indians, seniors Lucas Kopriva and Ryan Sommerlot are back to guide the offense.

Kopriva threw for 383 yards and three scores, while rushing for two TDs.

Sommerlot had four rushing touchdowns.

West Bend-Mallard (0-0) at Newell-Fonda (0-0)

The Wolverines and Mustangs put up big numbers a year ago, and Friday night could be more of the same.

This will be the 15th meeting since 2010 between the two eight-man offensive juggernauts. The Mustangs have won the last nine contests, including a 28-14 victory last season.

Newell-Fonda reached the playoffs last fall, going 10-2. The Mustangs will have to replace do-it-all graduate Mason Dicks. Dicks threw for 1,728 yards and 23 touchdowns, while running for 890 yards and 14 scores.

Ryan Greenfield is also gone as well after a 641-yard campaign and 16 trips to the end zone. Greenfield threw for 903 and 10 touchdowns.

The Wolverines will also have a lot to replace after graduating quarterback Max Fehr, who threw for 662 yards and eight TDs. Fehr had an incredible season on the ground as well, with 1,190 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Senior Landon Montag will be back for WB-M after a season of 834 yards on the ground and 11 paydirt trips.

Other area games: Greene County (0-0) at Carroll (0-0); East Sac County (0-0) at IKM Manning (0-0); Emmetsburg (0-0) at Central Lyon/G-LR (0-0); Okoboji (0-0) at North Union (0-0).