Friday night football nears for Suffolk high schools

At least among the four high school football squads in Suffolk, King’s Fork will get to have an opening Friday night to itself with a contest at Booker T. Washington kicking off the season on Aug. 26.

The Bulldogs were 3-7 a season ago but will try to build on a three-game winning streak when they open at the Bookers. King’s Fork finished last fall with a city sweep, beating Lakeland 13-0 and Nansemond River 20-6 on the last two Friday nights.

After the lone non-district game of the season, the Bulldogs get a bye week before going to Indian River on Sept. 9 and hosting Nansemond River on Sept. 16.

Nansemond-Suffolk and Windsor have halted a two-decade-long tradition of making the short trip along Route 460 to open their respective gridiron seasons.

The Saints and Dukes will scrimmage against each other in August but the Saints, under longtime Western Branch coach Lew Johnston for the first time, travel to the Outer Banks to meet First Flight High School on Friday, Sept. 2.

NSA gets three straight home dates for the rest of its September schedule, including Tidewater Conference games against Norfolk Christian and Bishop Sullivan. The Saints won the VIS state championship in 2009 and fell to a 4-6 record last season.

Nansemond River will open its campaign hosting Wilson on Sept. 2 before taking on nine straight Friday nights of Southeastern District foes.

The Presidents beat the Warriors (1-9) 26-0 last season at Arrowhead Stadium. Nansemond River’s lone win came by a 14-6 score at Lakeland. Lakeland (0-10) plays at Nansemond River in the regular season finale on Nov. 4.

The Cavaliers jump right into district play, hosting Deep Creek to open on Sept. 2. The Cavs will host King’s Fork on Oct. 7.

2011 football schedules

All games are scheduled for 7 p.m. unless noted. Home games are in all CAPS.

King’s Fork

Aug. 26 at Booker T. Washington

Sept. 9 at Indian River

Sept. 16 NANSEMOND RIVER

Sept. 23 at Great Bridge

Sept. 30 WESTERN BRANCH

Oct. 7 at Lakeland

Oct. 14 HICKORY

Oct. 21 GRASSFIELD

Oct. 28 at Deep Creek

Nov. 4 OSCAR SMITH

Nansemond River

Sept. 2 WILSON

Sept. 9 at Grassfield

Sept. 16 at King’s Fork

Sept. 23 OSCAR SMITH

Sept. 30 at Deep Creek

Oct. 7 INDIAN RIVER

Oct. 14 at Great Bridge

Oct. 21 WESTERN BRANCH

Oct. 28 at Hickory

Nov. 4 LAKELAND

Lakeland

Sept. 2 DEEP CREEK

Sept. 9 at Hickory

Sept. 16 at Maury

Sept. 23 WESTERN BRANCH

Sept. 30 at Oscar Smith

Oct. 7 KING’S FORK

Oct. 14 at Grassfield

Oct. 21 GREAT BRIDGE

Oct. 28 INDIAN RIVER

Nov. 4 at Nansemond River

Nansemond-Suffolk

Sept. 2 at First Flight (N.C.) (7:30 p.m.)

Sept. 9 CHRISTCHURCH

Sept. 16 NORFOLK CHRISTIAN

Sept. 23 BISHOP SULLIVAN

Oct. 1 (Sat.) at Virginia Episcopal (2 p.m.)

Oct. 7 at Portsmouth Christian

Oct. 14 NORFOLK ACADEMY

Oct. 21 at Greenbrier Christian

Oct. 28 at Trinity Episcopal (3:30 p.m.)

Nov. 4 HAMPTON ROADS