It's football time!

At last, the high school football season has finally arrived.

If by some chance you missed it, teams from across the state will play their Kickoff Classic games this week.

Locally, Crestview travels to Gulf Breeze to take on the Dolphins on Thursday. And Friday it will be Baker hosting Jay.

In other states to our north the season has already started.

Alabama had its preseason high school games last weekend. And in Tennessee the regular season kicked off last Friday night.

Of course given the heat and humidity of Florida, the later the season starts the better it is for players, coaches and players alike.

It has been a while since I played high school football, but back then the season usually didn’t start until the second or third week in September. The 10-game regular season ran through the end of November. But with only three rounds in the playoffs, a state champion was still crowned before Christmas.

Several years ago the playoffs were extended to rounds four rounds for small schools and five rounds for big schools.

If Baker were to make it to the Class 1A title game, the Gators would wrap up the season on Dec. 10. If Crestview makes it to the 4A championship game, the Bulldogs will end the season Dec. 18.

Right now the playoffs and state championships are the things almost every team in the state is dreaming of, and the first questions will be answered this week as teams take to the field for their preseason games.

Crestview coach Matt Brunson plans on playing things close to the vest against the Dolphins.

In all fairness to both teams, the Bulldogs should be bigger, stronger and more athletic than Gulf Breeze.

Brunson plans on using the game to hopefully get all of the Bulldogs into a game situation that will allow the Crestview coaching staff a chance to evaluate schemes and players.

For starters such as Martez House, Allen Caldwell and Will Boler, the game will be simply a dress rehearsal, but for others fighting for a job, it is an audition.

There is a little more on the line when Jay rolls into Baker on Friday.

Not only are the Royals Baker’s biggest rival, but the two schools also are district opponents.

With the Gators going winless in 2009, the game takes on a greater importance as the team tries to get back on solid footing.

Baker only lost four or five seniors off last year’s team and had only two other players leave the program during the offseason, so there is plenty of experience on the Gator squad.

With Logan Wagner returning for his second season at quarterback, the Baker passing game could be the strongest it has been since Lane Barnhill was under center in 2006. A good start against the Royals on Friday could propel Wagner to a big season throwing the football and would give the Gators the confidence they need to contend in District 1-1A.

And so the quest for a state title begins, at least in practice, Thursday and Friday nights.

The real season begins next week.

And at last, football season has arrived.