The prep football season is upon us and there are many interesting matchups as we take a look at the local 2A, 1A and 2B teams in action this weekend.

Aberdeen at Montesano

When and Where: 7 p.m., Friday, Montesano High School

Players to Watch: Aberdeen — Cody Bemis, QB; Morgun Morrow, RB; Connar Sherman, RB; Gio Pasani, K. Montesano — Trace Ridgway, QB; Sam Winter, RB/LB; Aydan Darst, RB/LB; Brent Hollatz, FB/LB; Tanner Nicklas, OL/DL

The Todd Bridge era at Aberdeen High School begins on Friday when the Bobcats take on a team that has dominated them in recent history, the Montesano Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs are 6-0 dating back to 2012, with four of those wins being of the blowout variety, including last season’s 40-8 thrashing at Stewart Field.

While predicting an Aberdeen upset would be a fool’s errand this season, Bridge’s hiring is intriguing as the former North Beach head coach and Elma athletic director had great success in leading the Hyaks program, leaving local football fans wondering if he can use that formula to turn around the Aberdeen program.

Montesano, meanwhile, keeps humming along under head coach Terry Jensen. The Bulldogs return eight starters and several high-profile players that have the Bulldogs primed to compete for another 1A Evergreen title and state-playoff berth.

King’s Way Christian at Elma

When and Where: 7 p.m., Friday, Elma High School

Players to Watch: Elma — Cody Vollan, QB; Brady Shriver, RB; Mikia Diacon, RB; Tysen Richardsen, WR. KWC — Kemper Schrock, QB; Byrson Mentz, WR; Bryce Dodge, TE.

Despite being last season’s hard-luck team in a tight 1A Evergreen League race last season, the Elma Eagles took a huge step forward under head coach Ron Clark, appearing in the state playoffs for the first time since 2001.

Elma finished 8-3 in 2018, with two of those losses coming in gut-wrenching fashion at the hands of league-rivals Hoquiam and Montesano in the final minute of each contest.

This season, if the Eagles are to return to prominence they’ll have to do so with an offensive line that features five new starters that will have to gel quickly if the Eagles are to have success.

The Knights have just five wins combined over the last two seasons and finished 2-7 without a league win in 2018.

KWC will bring experience this season, with eight returning starters on each side of the ball and head coach Brian Rodriguez returning for his second season at the helm, the first Knights’ coach to return for a second season in five years.

Castle Rock at Hoquiam

When and Where: 7 p.m., Friday, Olympic Stadium

Players to Watch: Hoquiam — Matt Brown, LB; Cameron Bumstead, DB; Dane McMillan, QB; Cayden Kempf, QB; Rayyon Dayton, WR. Castle Rock — Wyatt Partridge, RB; Landon Gardner, DE; Coleman Guerrero, FB

Hoquiam opens the 2019 campaign coming off one of its most successful seasons in recent memory.

The Grizzlies went 10-1, won the 1A Evergreen League title and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.

But there is a big question mark for the Grizzlies entering 2019: Who will replace league MVP Payton Quintanilla at quarterback?

As of Friday’s Football Jamboree at Montesano, that question was still up in the air as both Dane McMillan and Cayden Kempf took snaps under center for the Grizzlies.

While there are question marks as to whom will do the play-calling for Hoquiam this season, there is little doubt who will be leading the Grizzlies defense as all-league linebacker Matt Brown returns to a defense that held seven opponents to 14 points or less in 2018.

Castle Rock, which finished 3-6 in the 1A Trico League in 2018, will feature running back Wyatt Partridge, who ran for over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

Partridge will run behind an experienced offensive line that returns nearly all its starters and picked up Jett Johnson from Toutle Lake.

The Rockets’ O-line will be tasked with protecting sophomore quarterback Chance Naugle, who won the starting job over the summer.

Winlock at North Beach

When and Where: 7 p.m., Friday, North Beach High School

Players to Watch: Garrett Armbruster, QB/RB; Matt Smith OL/DL; Westin Fruh, TE/SS.

After compiling just two wins over the past two seasons, including a winless 2018 campaign, the North Beach Hyaks have a new outlook entering this season.

Hyaks head coach Jamie Moodenbaugh is the third rookie head coach in as many seasons for North Beach, but had his team buying into the program with a positive outlook over the summer.

Garrett Armbruster and Matt Roland will guide the Hyaks’ spread offense that hopes to put points on the board, something that elluded North Beach last season.

If the Hyaks are to end a 15-game losing streak, they’ll have to beat a Winlock Cardinals team that is coming off a 3-8 season. One of Winlock’s three wins in 2018 came in a 21-6 opening week victory over North Beach.

Adna at Pe Ell-Willapa Valley

When and Where: 7 p.m., Friday, Menlo

Players to Watch: PWV — Logan Walker, QB; Peter Hamilton, RB/LB; Matt Smith, RB/LB; Sam Wester, WR/DB.

As was the case this time last season, the Pe Ell-Willapa Valley Titans will face one of the state’s top teams in the 2B classification when they face Adna to open the season.

PWV, which won the 2B Pacific League last season, running the table with a 6-0 league record, fell to the Pirates 35-0 to open the 2018 campaign.

But in 2019 PWV returns most of its weapons, including quarterback Logan Walker and running back Peter Hamilton.

Having suffered through multiple injuries last season, PWV is deeper and more experienced entering 2019.

Adna, ranked No. 1 through most of the 2018 season, finished 10-1 last year and advanced to the state semifinals, where it suffered its lone loss to Napavine, 32-13.

Adna returns 11 starters on its 38-player roster and looks to be a formidable opponent once again in 2019.

Raymond at Rainier

When and Where: 7 p.m., Friday, Rainier High School

Players to Watch: Raymond — McCartney Maden, RB/LB; Joseph Villalpando, RB/DB; Jose Delgado, QB/DB

In 2018, the Raymond Seagulls offense featured two 1,000-yard rushers in Patrick Edwards and McCartney Maden.

A year later, one half of that rushing attack returns to a team head coach Luke Abbott said has plenty of speed.

Maden, who ran for 1,091 and 16 TDs in 2018, returns to lead a quick Raymond squad that will also see Joseph Villalpando get some touches.

Rainier beat Raymond 27-10 to open the 2018 season and the Mountaineers finished the season 5-4.

Ocosta at La Conner

When and Where: 2 p.m., Saturday, La Conner High School

Players to Watch: Cole Hatton, QB; Christian Taylor, WR/CB; Brandon Thomas, TE/OLB; Jorge Orozco, OL/DL; Isaac O’Hagan, RB/LB

After leading the Wildcats to its first wining season since 2009, Ocosta head coach Chris Raffelson enters his third year at the helm looking to take the next step toward a state playoff spot.

That quest begins when the Wildcats take on La Conner on Saturday.

Ocosta returns starting quarterback Cole Hatton, who will have fellow returners Christian Taylor and Brandon Thomas as targets.

The Wildcats finished 5-4 in 2018 and will have to compensate for the loss of multiple starters on its offensive and defensive lines, as well as a lack of depth when compared to last year’s squad.

But according to Raffelson, the Wildcats have much more speed and talent spread throughout the roster.

Ocosta beat La Conner 14-7 to open the 2018 season as the Braves went 1-8 last year.

La Conner has nine seniors on the 38-man roster with just six players weighing over 200 pounds.