By DAN BISER

If the past two years are any indication, the West Columbus Vikings will be opening their 2006 football season Friday night against one of the state’s weakest programs.

West Columbus, which ran to an 8-5 record and a runnerup finish in the Southeastern 1A/2A Conference last fall, will kick off its 2006 season Friday night at 7:30 against the Dixon Bulldogs. The Onslow County team has gone winless over the past two seasons and managed to post only four touchdowns in 11 games in the 2005 season.

Coach Vernon Brigman’s Vikings traveled to Holly Ridge last August to open the season with the Bulldogs and coasted to a 48-0 victory. West Columbus scored 36 of those points in the second quarter.

Junior back Travis Leggett, who scored the first three touchdowns in last year’s win at Dixon, is back to help lead the Vikings and is one of the top returning players in the Southeastern Conference.

West Columbus also trounced Dixon 42-14 in its 2004 opener.

Coach Jeff Whitehead’s Dixon squad is a member of the Coastal Plains 1A Conference. While Dixon boasts one of the state’s top 1A boys soccer programs, its football team has struggled to maintain stability for three decades. The 2003, the Dixon team posted a 5-6 record.

One of the main objectives for Coach Brigman and his WCHS staff this season will be trying to fill the void left by a talented group of senior players from last season, including All-Staters Ricardo Crawford and Ryan McCleney. Crawford, a defensive tackle, is now a member of the University of Georgia football team. McCleney, who played quarterback and handled all kicking and punting duties, is joining the ECU football squad this fall as a walk-on place-kicker.

The Vikings have tuned up for regular-season play with scrimmages against Green Sea-Floyds, S.C., and Purnell Swett.

The 2005 Viking team advanced to the second round of the state playoffs for the first time since 1979.