Confidence is both powerful and contagious.

I wasn’t at Nansemond River’s football victory over Wilson Friday night. The Warriors likely gained plenty of confidence throughout their 22-3 win, a win that came after a 1-9 record last season.

Lakeland’s 41-0 win over Deep Creek Friday was one of the most interesting displays of a little confidence leaving a team feeling unbeatable that I have ever seen.

There’s likely no way to know if Lakeland’s performance set some type of record, especially among the thousands of high school football teams that have played across the nation for more than a century. But I can’t imagine too many times when a school that went winless one season started the next season with a 41-0 halftime lead in game one.

One play worked, leading to the next play working. Something good happened for the Cavaliers on defense, leading to more confidence for the next time on offense and so on.

Deep Creek’s sideline and stands didn’t appreciate seeing it. Other than that understandable exception, a side any athlete or fan has been on, it was easy to take in the excitement of a group of kids seeing something they’d struggled with work out so well, at least for one half.

Cavalier coach Glenwood Ferebee wasn’t happy with the 0-0 second-half score, and he’d also be the first to say a 1-0 record is nice, but there’s another game this Friday.

Nansemond River didn’t burst out of the blocks the same way Lakeland did. The final score was equally impressive. And judging by last year’s records and Wilson’s 26-0 win over the Warriors last season, it was also a surprising victory.

I’ve got Suffolk’s high school football schedules on my hard drive going back to 2006. This was the first time since at least sometime in the 2005 season that Nansemond River and Lakeland won in the same week.

One win might or might not be the start of winning seasons or playoff spots. It’s way too early to say.

But at least the optimism and energy of the first Friday night of football season will carry over. And perhaps the Cavs and the Warriors will gain from the experience of knowing what they’re capable of, which is a lofty goal for any sports team to shoot for.