Welcome to Prep football 2008

We're ready to roll.

All of the preparation and extra time is complete. Now it's time to see the finished product in action.

At times the demands seemed mentally exhausting. But you keep pounding away - albeit at a keyboard rather than a blocking sled.

Just like the players and coaches and fans, we're ready for the return of high school football. Ready to watch all of the drama and excitement under the Friday night lights unfold.

No matter whether your team is coming off a state championship or a winless season, you enter tonight with hopes and dreams of being part of the 256-team playoff field in late October. Of playing for one of eight state titles in Champaign on Thanksgiving weekend.

And everywhere you look tonight there are great area matchups. Fremd at defending Class 7A champion Lake Zurich. Neuqua Valley at defending 8A champ Naperville North.

Carmel and defending 6A champ and powerhouse Joliet Catholic weren't scheduled to meet in East Suburban Catholic Conference play. So they decided to play each other in a "nonconference" opener that could end up being the unofficial league title game.

But it doesn't have to be two powerhouses squaring off to have the opening night excitement. Tonight I'll be heading to my favorite opener, Hersey and St. Viator at the old Forest View campus in Arlington Heights. It has all the elements of a great rivalry no matter what the records may be. They're located a mile apart. Public vs. Catholic. It always draws a great crowd with each side hoping in the final minute they'll be the ones chanting "This is our town."

This is an exciting time for us as well. This blog will definitely evolve and delve into different sports and issues with input and opinions from others on our staff who you may be more familiar with from your coverage area. It's going to be a lot of fun - which is what high school sports should be all about.

It's also what the opening night of high school football is all about.