Eight Messenger-area teams will go toe-to-toe in Week 1, getting a feel for what their work has helped build.

District play is weeks away, so finding out what they have to offer will lead to progression.

The Messenger game of the week will be just a few short miles away, as Manson Northwest Webster travels to Southeast Valley.

Perennial eight-man powers Newell-Fonda and West Bend-Mallard meet to start their respective journeys.

Eagle Grove travels to Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, and South Central Calhoun will host Pocahontas Area.

Humboldt visits Spencer to try and keep the series momentum going. The Wildcats beat the Tigers last season to end a three-game losing streak. Spencer has won five of the last eight meetings.

The matchup between the Cougars and Jaguars has shown a streaky track record. The Jaguars have won two straight, which ended a four-game streak from the Cougars. Southeast Valley started the 10-game span with four consecutive victories.

Algona will have a tough opening night contest, traveling to Spirit Lake. Last season the Indians finished 10-2 and reached the Class 3A state semifinals in the UNI-Dome.

The Bulldogs, led by Iowa State recruits Alex Manske and Jack Limbaugh, will look to leave their lasting mark on high school football. Algona finished 6-4 last season.

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

The Cougars and Jaguars were on the precipice of breakthrough seasons. Manson Northwest Webster finished 3-5 and the Jaguars were 5-4. Southeast Valley won 26-8 last year behind a 100-yard passing effort and 190 yards on the ground.

Southeast Valley’s defense was stifling, allowing only 71 yards on the ground.

Seniors Cale Vansickle and classmate Brady Hanson return after strong campaigns. Vansickle threw for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns, adding 419 on the ground and three scores.

Hanson had 762 yards and 11 trips to the end zone.

The Cougars are led by Logan Moline. The senior threw for 1,092 yards and seven touchdowns, while running for four scores.

Classmate Kamden Birkey ran for 521 and five scores. Senior Matt Condon is back as the leading receiver after catching 26 balls for 410 yards and three scores.

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

It was a down year for Newell-Fonda as the usual playoff bound squad went 3-5. The Wolverines went 7-3 and earned a playoff victory.

The Wolverines will look to replace Landon Montag, as he accounted for over 2,300 yards of offense and 40 touchdowns.

Cole Fehr ran for just under 1,000 yards and scored 14 times last year.

Newell-Fonda will be under the direction of Nathan Baron who takes over for Brian Wilken who earned 191 wins. Wilken was 199-71 in his 25 year career.

Last season Max Carlson ran for over 500 yards and added 258 more through the air. Trevor Tauber had over 300 yards of total offense and is also returning.

Eagle Grove (0-0) at Clarion-Goldfield/Dows (0-0)

Clarion-Goldfield has won six-straight games against the Cowboys including a 49-6 victory a year ago.

The Cowboys built a strong running attack last season. Charlie Campbell returns as the leading rusher. Campbell went for 249 yards and scored four touchdowns and recorded 39 tackles as a freshman.

Huxley Lingenfelter led the team with 46 tackles and also had 56 yards receiving and a score.

The Eagles will lean on 17 returning letterwinners after struggling to earn a win last year.

Junior Leelan Spencer had 245 yar rushing yards and is the top returning offensive skill player.

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

The Titans finished 5-4 last year and earned a spot in the playoffs. The Indians were on the verge with a 4-5 record.

The Titans have seven of the last nine games in the series, including a 34-14 win last year.

Since 2008, the Titans have posted six seasons with at least 10 wins and 14 winning years overall, including back-to-back 10-1 campaigns in 2018 and 2019.

Junior Charlie Nattress and senior Cole Higgins are back after combining for almost 500 yards receiving and 29 catches, while Higgins also ran for nearly 300 yards.

The Indians finished strong, winning their final two games, including their last three of four.

Gabe Ehn is back after 223 yard receiving and three scores.

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

With a strong nucleus back Humboldt looks to continue its strong run under head coach Derrick Elman.

Elman arrived at Humboldt in 2018 and has won 37 games during that period, reaching the state semifinals twice under his direction.

Quarterback Coen Matson is one of the key pieces returning to the mix. Matson threw for 1,013 yards while rushing for another 488 in 2023.

Spencer lost its first six games of the season and finished with three straight victories. The Wildcats topped the Tigers 20-3 in last year’s opener.

The Tigers rushed for 25 touchdowns a year ago, but will look to replace graduate Adrian Carillo, who had over 700 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Ten of those rushing scores will be back in the backfield.

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

Spirit Lake won 10 games last year and had a stretch of nine straight wins since losing in the second week.

The Indians lost to Central Lyon-George/Little Rock in the Class 2A state semifinals.

Quarterback Caden Lundt threw for 2,311 yards and 24 touchdowns. They have a pair of backs who ran for over 600 years.

William Ditsworth had 825 yards and 14 touchdowns. Bode Higgins had 666 and 10 trips to the end zone.

The Bulldogs won six games a year ago and earned a spot in the playoffs.

Manske and Limbaugh will be cogs in the Bulldog lineup. Manske threw for 1,787 yards and 17 touchdowns. He ran for 714 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Evan Allie also returns to the backfield. Allie ran for 744 yards and seven trips to the end zone.

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