In less than three weeks, the high school football season will be underway. The dawn of a new high school football season coincides with the beginning of a new school year, bringing with it a newness that is accented by the fall season. No moment is more exciting and anxiety-inducing for young athletes than the week leading up to the first game of the season. The rewards from the hard work, preparation and implementation that have been instilled over the long, hot Georgia summer are ready to be reaped. The time for speculation is drawing to a close, it is nearly time for the action to take center stage.

The storylines across the county are rich and interesting heading into this season. LaGrange, fresh off the school’s first winless campaign in its history, has a new coach at the helm in Chuck Gibbs, who will look to shake the county’s status quo. Troup County will look to continue the winning tradition the school has established over the last two years with a new quarterback under center. Callaway has lost 17 seniors from last year’s team, 15 of whom have moved on to play college football. The Cavaliers still have high hopes to continue the success of the program’s last two seasons, which has seen the team post a 24-3 record.

In the private school realm, LaFayette Christian will look to improve from last year’s showing with a returning core of young talented players. New on the football scene this season in the county will be Unity Prep Academy, which has moved from the East Point area to LaGrange and will be competing in the GICAA.

There is much happening in the broader LaGrange and Troup County landscape, most good and some bad, as is the case in every city across the country. Football season provides not only a renewed sense of competition and possibility, but a sense of momentary escape. The athletes participating, the coaches guiding and the fans absorbing the game all have the opportunity to leave the rest of the world behind, for a few hours on Friday nights, and enjoy clean competition.

The upcoming football season will bring with it twists and turns, as it always does. Whatever the season brings, we will be here to cover the games and reactions. Bring on the season.