Louisa County bragging rights and a 1-0 start to the season are on the line Friday in Columbus Junction when the Wildcat football team opens with rival Louisa-Muscatine. 

Columbus will try to make it two in a row in the series after an exciting 34-28 win last year against the Falcons to snap a nine game losing skid. Speed is the name of the game for the Wildcats this year with a lot of position player weapons returning from a 2-6 team in 2020. State track runner Kaden Amigon will return in the backfield and look to build off of 495 rushing yards as a freshman. Jeff Hoback, Andrew Gonzalez, and Triston Miller highlight other returners that will carry the rock. Just seven players graduated from last year’s team. L&M was 1-7 last fall and lose their top two rushers in Emmanuel Walker and Hayden Calvelage. Quarterback Bryar Runnells returns after 426 passing yards and his main target is back in Xander Bieri and his 231 receiving yards. 

Wildcat Head Coach Dave Lekwa tells KCII Sports this rivalry is special. “It means a lot. When you are in high school and in the battle they are your hated rival. The truth of the matter is though as you grow up and get to know their community they are good people. They have a good program, will bring a great crowd to our place, and it should be a good game. Bragging rights are on the line and we will look to continue having it.”

The season kicks off at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Columbus Community High School.