The weather is changing, leaves are falling, and the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back. There is also one big change to our schedules-Football is back! On Friday nights, every high schooler in America will be attending or participating in a good old fashion football game. This past weekend, LaSalle-Peru High School trumped United Township in a thriller 18-16 win with a last second touchdown.  Saint Bede Academy lost against Downs-Tri Valley with the final score of 22-16. Orion steamrolled Hall in a 42-14 victory with a 36-point first half. Princeton ran all over Newman with a 29-14 victory and 201 rushing yards for the Tigers.

Not only was it a big week for high school football, but it was a big week for college football with 4 top 25 schools losing their first matchup. The most notable being unranked Boston College defying the odds beating number. 10 Florida State in a 28-13 game. For the avid sports fans, weekends will be full of football starting Thursday, since the NFL brings us The Chiefs versus The Ravens, An AFC Championship rematch to start the season. The Chiefs are heavy favorites in this match-up due to them being the home team and reigning Super Bowl Champs. The Ravens come into this game with nothing to lose and have a high chance of winning on paper. They brought in former Pro Bowl Running Back, Derrick Henry, this offseason and have the reigning MVP in Lamar Jackson.

I am excited for all levels of football this fall. There is something about going to a high school game and the smell and feel of it all. Also, staying at home and watching an NFL or College game with your friends brings people together. Fall brings a lot of festivities that make it my favorite time of the year. I intend on going to many football games this fall because for the first time in 5 years, I will not be playing. Football has a strong grip on our community and seeing the mass amounts of people at a high school on a Friday night shows it.