Few teams are as excited to get the new football season started as the Columbus Wildcats. After a 7-0 start to 2022 resulted in the team’s first winning season in over 20 years, Columbus brings most of the roster back looking for more success, ready to kick off the season with a trip to face Mediapolis tonight.

Leading the way for Columbus is all-state senior Kaden Amigon, who rushed for nearly 1,900 yards and 26 touchdowns last fall. Running backs like junior Riley Kaalberg and seniors Cole Storm and Trenton Hoback will also touch the ball plenty in the Wildcats’ option attack.

The core of a strong defense that gave up only 18 points per game last season is also back. Kaalberg and Storm return after leading the team in tackles and putting up at least 57 tackles each, while senior defensive lineman Russell Coil is also back and will look to build on his 13 tackles for loss and five sacks in 2022.

Class A Columbus can score an important Week One victory if they knock off Class 2A Mediapolis. The Bulldogs were 8-2 and reached the playoffs in 1A last season. Mepo brings back some of their top defenders, like senior Kyle Vorwerk and his 20-and-a-half tackles for loss. The Wildcats battle the Bulldogs starting this evening at 7.