It’s finally arrived! On the final day of August, the 2012 High School Football season in Kansas is set to kick off. Among the intriguing week one matchups in Northeast Kansas, the featured game of the week on 103.9 FM, KNZA pits county rivals Doniphan West at Riverside. Both teams won a playoff game a year ago and were 9-2, which set records in their abbreviated school history. This will also be the final meeting as Delaware Valley League foes and next year Riverside joins the Big 7 and D-West heads west to the Twin Valley League. Both the Cyclones and Mustangs start sophomore quarterbacks tonight as well. Andrae McGaughy takes over for Riverside while Tristan Speer is back at D-West where he combined for more than 2,100 yards and 28 touchdowns on offense last year as a freshman. D-West beat Riverside 28-8 a year ago in a rain-delayed week two matchup.

Elsewhere is the DVL, Caleb Wick makes his head coaching debut for Jackson Heights as they play at Horton, while Jermaine Monroe begins his first season at the helm with Maur Hill/Mount Academy as the Ravens travel to Oskaloosa. Pat McCollim is the third new coach in the league as his Pleasant Ridge Rams will host Atchison in a non-league matchup.

There are a trio of Big 7 League tussle’s tonight including a week one rematch between Royal Valley at Santa Fe Trail. The better matchups however appear to be with league foes that have not played each the past couple seasons. In fact, it’s the first Big 7 football meeting with Perry Lecompton and Hiawatha who are both coming off playoff campaigns. Meanwhile, Sabetha ventures to Jeff West and the previous two encounters between the Bluejays and Tigers were decided by 8 points (21-13 in 2009) and 6 points (6-0 in 2008) in overtime.

The Big 7 League showcases no new head coaches for 2012. Defending league champ Holton host Desoto while Nemaha Valley has a week one toughie against DVL preseason favorite, McLouth.

In the Twin Valley League, it's a marque matchup of state powers who start the season both ranked number one in the 8-Man Ranks.  The B&B Falcons have been in the state championship game the past four years and are ranked first again in Divison Two entering 2012.  The Falcons travel to face Madison, who has won 26 straight games including the past two 8-Man state titles in Divison One.  WOW, what a game!

Meanwhile, Centralia-Wetmore begins their title defense in Class 2-1A with a home game against St. Mary's.  The Panthers have won 13 consecutive crowns in the Twin Valley League 11-Man ranks, while tonight the only TVL matchup pitts Onaga at home against Washington County.  The Buffaloes are looking for their first league win in seven seasons as the featured matchup on KMZA 92.1 FM.

Kanzaland Radio will breakdown and preview all the week one area high school football matchups starting at 6:00 PM with the award-winning Friday Night Fever Pregame Show.  It can also be heard online at www.mscnews.net and https://www.network1sports.com/station/knza