The Highwood Mustangs launched into their 2016 football season Wednesday with their first day of training camp.

They only had a handful out for the first practice, but Head Coach Brian Brandford knows there's more coming.

"We have 18 guys here. I've already heard from seven or eight guys that couldn't be here, they're still on their family holiday, they're back Friday, Saturday, Sunday.  So I'm anticipating by next Monday we'll have 25 or 26. And then we always pick up a few when school gets back in and that kind of stuff."

Brandford says they'll be missing their starting quarterback in Mitch Newman, who blew out his knee at the Alberta Summer Games in rugby in the gold medal match.

He says he has confidence in his other quarterback prospects, but will still rely on a strong running game to get him through.

"Our first goal is always to able to run the ball. But unfortunately, when we play the bigger schools they got big guys, and that's where we were successful last year was throwing the ball because it balances it out a little bit. I'm excited about the prospects this year. We've got about eight or nine guys returning from last year, who have really bought into the program and know what to do. They're going to be great leaders for us."

The Mustangs will hit the field hard for the next couple of weeks as they prepare for the season.

They'll play their first game Saturday, September 3 in Pincher Creek.