The Wisconsin high school football season kicked off with a small slate of games Thursday, but action gears up into full swing Friday. Here’s a look at a few intriguing matchups on the west side of the state.

Eau Claire Memorial at Hudson, 7 p.m.

Eau Claire Memorial and Eau Claire North are off to compete in the Wisconsin Valley Conference this year in another Big Rivers shakeup that brings Rice Lake — the defending Division 3 state champion — back into the fold.

But in line with keeping rivalries and traditions alive, Hudson will still duel with the Old Abes, only this time in a nonconference Week 1 affair. Both Memorial and Eau Claire North are playing against Big Rivers Conference schools in the first two weeks of the season. North played Menomonie on Thursday. Our pick: Hudson 42, Eau Claire Memorial 14

Baldwin-Woodville at Mount Horeb/Barnevald, 7 p.m.

An early-season titanic clash of powers from a year ago, with Baldwin-Woodville serving as one of the top programs in Division 4, and Mount Horeb/Barneveld holding that same distinction in Division 3.

The Week 1 challenge would be an especially tricky one for Baldwin-Woodville, which must find a way to replace the production of dominant duel-threat quarterback Cal Smith. Our pick: Mount Horeb/Barneveld 30, Baldwin-Woodville 20

Prescott at Northwestern, 7 p.m.

Prescott is a team to watch this fall. The Cardinals finished 4-5 a year ago, missing the playoffs amid the always grueling Middle Border Conference schedule.

But they return loads of production this season, with quarterback Teddy Bernick orchestrating a passing offense featuring receivers Kobe Russell and Will Packard, and 2023 leading tacklers Barrett Temmers and Owen Bayer also return.

A win over a Northwestern team that won double-digit games last fall would signal an arrival of sorts for the Cardinals. Our pick: Prescott 32, Northwestern 28