Norborne Hardin-Central will begin its varsity football season in familiar territory, facing Sweet Springs in the opener for the third consecutive year.

The Aggies travel to face the Greyhounds Friday night before another road game against Wellington-Napoleon in Week 2. They will make their home debut Sept. 11 against Santa Fe at Hardin- Central.

Andrew Watson, who has led the program since 2021, returns with assistant coaches Robert Blizzard, Tommy Burton, Gracin Munson and Kaed Kallenberger. The Aggies have 15 returning letter winners and bring back six starters who play on both sides of the ball.

Seniors Sam Barnett, Brody Fifer, Taven Hughes, Kody Musselman and Logan Summers are joined by junior Jagger McNelly. Barnett returns at tight end and linebacker, Fifer at quarterback and defensive back, Hughes at running back and linebacker, Musselman and Summers on the offensive and defensive lines and McNelly at running back and linebacker.

That veteran group will be counted on for more than…