King’s Fork (3-7 overall last season, 3-6 Southeastern) at Booker T. Washington (8-3, 5-2 Eastern) – 7 p.m.

King’s Fork enters the 2011 season with a three-game winning streak. All of the Bulldogs’ offseason work gets a stern test right out of the blocks in the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Bookers.

The Bookers finished tied for third in the Eastern District and lost 49-20 to Great Bridge in the first round of the Eastern Region Playoffs last season, going from 5-5 to 8-3 under second-year head coach Che Jacobs.

The Bookers have a core of seniors returning but freshman Marquise Poole is expected to be the starting quarterback.

King’s Fork and Hickory, playing Norview, are the only two Southeastern District schools kicking off a week early.

One positive from the early start is a bye week for the Bulldogs after the opener, giving KF two weeks to prepare for Indian River on Sept. 9.

The Bulldogs made big plays running and passing in their scrimmage versus Heritage last week. The season opener will be a step up in intensity and opposition.