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MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U GAME OF THE WEEK (Football): 2023 prep football season begins this week
Boscobel kicks off high school football season Friday night under new coach Marc Chiefari
Mark Chiefari
Boscobel Coach Marc Chiefari talks to the team following its scrimmage at Fall River last Friday against 2022 playoff teams Cambria-Friesland and Horicon/Hustisford.

MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Aug. 8–15)
FOOTBALL: Prep football season kicks off Friday night

By Jimmie Kaska, Boscobel Dial

Boscobel kicks off 2023 high school football season Friday night under new coach Marc Chiefari

BOSCOBEL — It’s been a long 10-month wait, but high school football returns to the valley Friday night when Boscobel takes on Royall to kick off the season.


The Bulldogs are fresh off of a scrimmage against a pair of 2022 playoff teams, Horicon/Hustisford and Cambria-Friesland, and two weeks of two-a-days before facing Royall Friday.


“Camp was a lot of fun and the players were definitely tested not only physically, but mentally,” Marc Chiefari, first-year MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U GAME OF THE WEEK (Football): Prep football practice begins for area teamsBoscobel head football coach, said. “The scrimmage went well; we were competitive with some really good teams.”


Chiefari will make his head coaching debut Friday night when Boscobel faces the Royall Panthers. In addition to it being the third straight season in which Boscobel opens with Royall, Chiefari will be the third different head coach in three seasons for the Bulldogs, following Dustin Johnson and Rob Scherrer. Royall has walloped Boscobel the past two seasons, 30-6 two years ago and 36-0 last year in a game called at halftime due to lightning. Despite the recent history, players and coaches alike are in eager anticipation to get the season going.


“I’m most excited about those Friday night lights finally being back,” Chiefari said. “I know the boys are feeling the exact same excitement.”


Even though it’s his head coaching debut, the setting won’t be unfamiliar for Chiefari, who is also a business education and media teacher at Boscobel. Chiefari, who previously coached at Fennimore, was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles in last October’s contest between Fennimore and Boscobel at Casey Nice Memorial Field, which Fennimore won 41-7.


“I’m just looking forward to doing what I love on another Friday night,” Chiefari said.


Summer practices and fall camp were marked by high-energy practices, an emphasis on safer tackling techniques, and large amounts of team time spent explaining plays, alignments, and football basics. As fall camp ramped up and the shoulder pads went on, competition at virtually every position also got stronger, creating a flexible depth chart that includes multiple players with two different jersey numbers to satisfy NFHS and WIAA rules for playing on the offensive line. With the program only currently 24 players strong, versatility should benefit the Bulldogs as they seek to do something no other Boscobel High School football team has ever done: Make it to the WIAA Playoffs.


“Coaching this group gives me a lot of hope for this season and for the future of Boscobel football,” Chiefari said.


Boscobel and Royall will kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday night at Casey Nice Memorial Field, the first of four straight home games to open the varsity season. Prior to the game, the annual Boscobel Athletic Boosters Tailgate Party will be held at the Gene Larsen Pavilion in Kronshage Park at 4 p.m.