Terrell Owens isn’t coming to town, but get your popcorn ready because next week high school football will be back in action.

Morgan Academy opens the year with an away game on Aug. 17, and there will be Friday night football in Selma every week until the first weekend of November. Unless one of the local teams advances to the playoffs.

I witnessed exciting plays, come from behind wins, overtime thrillers and even a couple playoff runs that made for an interesting 2017 season.

Everyone starts the season 0-0, but that cliché gets thrown out of the window after the first kick-off. I’m ready for the big hits, explosive plays, contested catches and the post–win celebrations.

I’m here for the halftime shows, the school spirit from the cheerleaders and the sounds of the crowd rooting on their teams.

High school football is a unique experience where the community can come together and enjoy the results of the hard work that the student athletes have been putting in all summer. They can enjoy the sounds of the bands that have been practicing for weeks without an audience. The dance teams can show off the moves they’ve been working on.

Friday night is a stage for the kids, and they deserve attention and support of the community. Not just on senior night or homecoming, but each week.

It’s tough enough to face a difficult opponent or perform in front of an unfamiliar crowd. A little support on the road can go a long way in helping the team succeed. Not to mention creating a home-field advantage when possible.

I’m excited to see what this year has in store. I’m not a fan of predictions, because I believe anything can happen. Each game comes down to who shows up that Friday night.

Which team will surprise me this year? Which player will have a breakout season? Which team will make the playoffs? Which team wants it more than the others?

Thomas Scott is the sports reporter for The Selma Times-Journal. He can be reached at thomas.scott@selmatimesjournal.com.