The start of the 2014 football season is here for the Bogalusa Lumberjacks.

BHS, which went 4-6 last season and made the playoffs, is at home tonight hosting the Kentwood Kangaroos.

“It’s the first game of the year,” Bogalusa ninth year coach Craig Jones said. “Both teams will be very excited with good emotions flowing through their bodies.”

These teams met last season with the Lumberjacks losing 30-8 in a contest that was tied, 8-8, at the break.

Bogalusa enters tonight after falling in the Mandeville Jamboree to Salmen 21-0.

Jones said his defense played well, but said the team committed four turnovers, which is something they need to eliminate.

“They gave up just one touchdown,” Jones said. “They played on Salmen’s plus side of the field for most of the night. We need to eliminate the turnovers this week. The turnovers were all fumbles, just dropped balls.”

Bogalusa’s defense forced a pair of turnovers themselves with Salehal-Dien Pittman and Tymothy Toussaint both intercepting passes.

Toussaint, who is also a quarterback, went 6-of-12 passing for 62 yards.

Kentwood has a new coach this season in Jonathan Foster. He replaces David Currier who is at Bowling Green.

Last season the club went 10-3 and made the semifinals before losing to the eventual Class 1A state champion Haynesville.

Foster said he’s got a lot of talented, but unproven guys.

“We have four starters back on offense and five on defense,” Foster said. “We’re young. We lost to Amite in the jamboree 2-0. We’re battling the injury bug. We had three kids injured during the Amite game and one that tore his ACL over the summer.”

Senior cornerback Ryan Walker, who has been starting since his sophomore season, has a torn ACL.

Offensive/defensive lineman Wayne Brown and linebacker/running back Aldric Lott are both out with wrist injuries and running back/safety Darriyn McKnight is out with an ankle injury.

Offensively, the Kangaroos run a spread with Shyheim Carter at quarterback. The running back spot will be by committee since Lott and McKnight are both out.

The wide receivers are Jaleel Hampton, Brandon Holmes, Kyvan Trout and Tommie Diamond.

Defensively, Kentwood is a 3-4 club.

The top defenders are Carter, who has a verbal commitment to the University of Alabama as a defensive back, and Keante Venible.

When asked the key to the game, Foster said mistakes and turnovers.

“I think the team with the least amount of turnovers will win this game,” Foster said.

BHS plays its first road contest next week against West St. John.