Thomas Jefferson High School football is a success story of which all Richmonders can be proud.

Not so long ago, the Vikings represented perhaps the worst program in Virginia. From 2003 to 2011, the West End school went 1-69. Then came a rise from the ashes under coaches Chad Hornik and P.J. Adams.

Since 2016, that same TJ has made the playoffs five straight seasons, including a run to Class 2 semifinals (under Adams) in 2019. There was no season in 2020.

Second-year coach Josef Harrison is confident the winning beat will continue this year as TJ opens Friday at crosstown rival Armstrong High. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on the Wildcats’ Cool Lane campus.

“We’ve had a good offseason in the weight room and implementing schemes and good preseason in August,” said Coach Harrison, a former Virginia Union linebacker.

Unlike many city schools, a shortage of participants is not an issue. “We expect to have about 45 kids and hopefully enough for a full JV team.”

Coach Harrison has “about eight to 10” starters who are returning from last year’s 6-4 squad. Among the newcomers is quarterback Quinton Wallace, who is putting on the pads for the first time.

“He’s 6-3, 205. He can run and he can definitely pass it,” said Coach Harrison. “Quinton’s played basketball and baseball here but this is the first time we’ve gotten him out for football.”

TJ’s started last season 6-1 (including a 7-0 win over Armstrong) but then adversity set in. Due to COVID-19, the team did not play for two full weeks.

Following the layoff, the Vikings lost two games in five days to Colonial Heights and Mills Godwin. Then came a 7-6 loss to Amelia in round one of the Class 2 playoffs.

Two other RPS schools will open Friday outside of town.

Huguenot will travel to Louisa for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff and John Marshall will kick off at 7 p.m. at Greensville High in Emporia.