The Wilson football team started the 2020 season Friday night in a big way. The Dragons traveled to Southern Cloud and crushed their opponents 54-6.

It was the opening game in a season that is expected to be led by five returning senior starters — Donavan Lyne, Garrett Thielen, Dylan Crawford, Cooper Weinhold and Camryn Eberhart.

Coach Tony Brokes considers top newcomers senior James Huck and freshman Aiden Watts as well.

“The Dragons will look for leadership from five returning seniors to bring young players around to varsity level,” Brokes said. “Offensive production will need to find consistency in early games. Defensively the team must unite, create stops and get the offense back on the field.”

The Dragons play in 8-Man Division II — District 5 in the Northern Plains League. In 2019, the team finished with a 2-7 record and fifth in district.

As for this year, “the district is very balanced with several teams looking to break into the playoffs,” Brokes said. “This could be a district that is undecided until the very end with Victoria/ Sylvan-Lucas being the teams to beat.

The Dragons were the only Ellsworth County football team to start the season as planned. Both Ellsworth and Central Plains were temporarily sidelined by positive coronavirus tests.

Brokes, who has been at Wilson 21 years, is assisted by Ted Long.