ALGONA — One of the oldest rivalries in Iowa high school football opens up the season here Friday night when defending eight-player state champion Bishop Garrigan hosts St. Edmond.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Last year, the Golden Bears overcame a Week 1 loss to the Gaels, reeling off 12 consecutive wins before securing the first state title under head coach Marty Wadle. Bishop Garrigan knocked off the past two reigning champions on its way to gold.

“I’m not sure anyone has had the kind of run that Garrigan had last year in terms of who they beat to win it all,” SEHS head coach Matt Dillon said. “It was absolutely crazy and they definitely earned it.

“Marty is a tremendous coach and a great friend who I enjoy coaching against.”

Quarterback Tate Foertsch leads a group of 15 letterwinners returning to the field after a sophomore season in which he had almost 2,000 yards of total offense and 32 combined touchdowns.

Keaton Helleseth, a returning all-stater, is back along with fellow starters Carter Schwab, Ethan Marso, Andrew Lichter and Wyatt Rosenmeyer. Marso ran for 285 yards and eight touchdowns while Helleseth had seven sacks on defense.

“What a great way to start the season,” Wadle said. “The longest standing Catholic rivalry in the state with two teams who are always competitive with one another.

“We had a great year last season but this group of kids feel like they have something to prove. We know we have a tremendous challenge ahead of us.”

The Gaels are a veteran group at every position outside of quarterback, as junior Ethan Swisher replaces JT Laufersweiler, who accounted for 73 percent of the St. Edmond offense in terms of yards last year and had a hand in 35 of the 47 TDs scored.

Seniors Sam Myer and Klay Baker, who had over 700 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, anchor the backfield along with Kinnick Henning and Aaron Hindt. Grant Galles, who had 867 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns, leads a receiving group that includes Dominic McClain and Jakob Koopman.

Looking to slow the Golden Bear offense down will be returning all-stater Adam Walker and company. Walker, a senior, had 23.5 tackles for loss last season and is joined by top returning tacklers Koopman, Baker, Quintin Jaeschke, Henning, Myer and Koleman Hanson.

“I like what we have on both sides of the ball this year,” said Dillon, who has 208 career wins in 39 seasons. “We have kids that we can put in a variety of roles and have success.

“Now, we just have to do it on Friday night.”

St. Edmond has won the last four meetings between the two in a series that dates back to 1959. That includes a 42-34 victory last year in a game that ended at nearly midnight after starting late due to heat.

The Golden Bears do own the all-time lead, 40-22, having last won in 2019, 28-15. They did not play each other in 2006 or ’07 but have met every season since, with the Gaels winning 11 of 16.