It could not have come soon enough.

The high school football season in New Hampshire kicks off Friday night and both area combatants will be in action.

Both Souhegan High School and Milford High School enter the year on an optimistic note.

Souhegan made the playoffs under first-year head coach Robin Bowkett in 2017, while the Spartans struggled to a 2-6 mark.

Each team has done the work in the preseason and paid its offseason dues. Now they are ready to go.

Here is a quick look at the openers for each team.

Milford at Hollis Brookline

Talk about a contrast of styles.

Hollis Brookline wants to play offense on a conveyor, with its spread offense and electric passing attack. Milford would rather play in a phone both, utilizing its option offense and the 1960s-style “wishbone triple option.”

Each team brings a dynamic athlete into the equation at quarterback with Sander Wimmer calling the signals for the Cavaliers and Gavin Urda taking snaps under center for Milford.

Each is a junior and each has multi-sport varsity experience.

Victor Garcia and Junior Ughu are expected to see the major share of the carries for Milford, which returns just eight seniors to the fold.

Hollis Brookline was a playoff team a year ago and features seven returning starters on each side of the ball for head coach Chris Lones.

This one will be played under the portable lights at Hollis Brookline’s “Swamp.”