The young Central High School varsity football team opened its 2018 season Friday night with a narrow 21-17 loss to host Altavista High School.

The similarly young Colonels improved their play in the second half, while the Chargers committed some miscues that led to difficulties for the visitors on the gridiron.

Central (0-1) hosts William Campbell High School (1-0) next Friday at 7 p.m.

For more on the Chargers’ season opener against Altavista, see next week’s edition of The Dispatch.