It’s finally here. The day we’ve all been waiting for. The start of the high school football season.

And, of course, you can’t have the first week of the high school football season without the first predictions column of the year.

The first week of the season is, in many ways, the most unpredictable of the bunch. Quite simply, nobody really knows what any team will look like when that first whistle blows.

Even coaches -- all of whom reported that 100 percent of their players got bigger, stronger and faster this offseason (what a coincidence) -- don’t know how that added size, strength and speed is going to translate into game situations until it actually occurs.

Adding to that unpredictability is that most teams will be playing unfamiliar opponents. Conference schedules don't start up for another couple weeks. Only a single game this week, Ypsilanti at Milan, features two teams from Washtenaw County against each other.

So please, read the preseason literature, research your favorite teams and their opponents and participate in the AnnArbor.com interactive predictions polls below. But don’t be surprised or discouraged if how you good you think a team is today in no way matches up with how it ends up being tomorrow night under the lights.

In other words, let the games begin…again.

2010 regular season record in parentheses. All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

TONIGHT
Manchester (7-3) vs. Clinton (5-4) at EMU, 5 p.m.: The Flying Dutchmen and Redskins kick off the Big Day Prep Showdown for the second straight year and renew their rivalry for the 110th time. If the Dutch can protect junior quarterback Nate Bossory, he should pick apart the Clinton defense. Manchester, 40-21.

FRIDAY
Ypsilanti (4-5) at Milan (6-3): The first game of the Jesse Hoskins-era in Milan begins as the former Big Reds' all-state quarterback takes over for his former coach and mentor, Steve Robb. Milan hasn’t lost a season-opener since 1993 and only lost three in Robb’s 25-year tenure, but the Phoenix are looking to avenge a one-point lost from a year ago and is led by Washtenaw County’s leading rusher from last year, Austin Sanders. Ypsilanti, 22-21.

Skyline (0-9) vs. Hartland (6-4) at EMU, 5 p.m.: The duel of the Eagles. The Hartland variety was last saw flying by Skyline for 29 unanswered points in a Week 1, 64-26 drubbing last year. Skyline should be improved, but this might be asking a little much. Hartland, 30-20.

Pioneer (5-5) at Warren DeLaSalle (7-2): On the road against Michigan quarterback commit Shane Morris is not the ideal way for Paul Test to begin his coaching tenure at Pioneer. DeLaSalle, 26-17.

Salem (1-8) at Huron (3-6): There are three schools located in the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park and the River Rats chose to schedule the one that wasn’t atop the state’s ranking all year (Canton) and that didn’t finish runner up in Division 1 (Plymouth). Smart move. Huron, 35-10.

Chelsea (6-3) vs. Novi (6-3) at EMU, 8 p.m.: Novi was 0-4 against playoff-bound opponents last season. The trend continues, as does the Bulldogs annual march to the postseason. Chelsea, 24-17.

Walled Lake Western (7-2) at Saline (6-3): Returning an all-state honorable mention kicker in Dylan Mulder, and an all-conference punter Ryan Brown will bode will for the Hornets in the field position battle. Saline, 24-21.

Belleville (5-4) at Lincoln (0-9): Belleville, 42-21.

Dexter (5-4) at Fowlerville(6-3): Fowlerville, 20-17.

Detroit PEC (4-5) at Willow Run (6-2): Willow Run, 33-30.

Stockbridge (7-2) at Whitmore Lake (0-9): Stockbridge, 65-14.

SATURDAY
Father Gabriel Richard (8-1) vs. Lake Fenton (3-6): The Fighting Irish graduated nearly every skill position starter from the team that beat Lake Fenton 26-24 in last year’s season opener. This year will have to be about defense for coach Brian Lemons’ squad. Richard, 17-14.

Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.