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It is almost unfathomable to think that as of Thursday, there are only 29 days until the 2021 prep football season kicks off across the state of Tennessee and local teams are hard at work preparing for their opening-night games.

Teams returned back to the practice field on July 12th after a two-week dead period and have been fine-tuning every aspect of their game as they will return to the field after a season of facing different stipulations due to COVID restrictions in their 2020 campaign.

Those restrictions will be lifted as teams return to full stadiums in 2021.

For a sports staff, one knows it is getting close to a new season when media days are being scheduled with each team so another football preview can be compiled for a new season.

With all local teams scheduled, the next two weeks for the Star Sports team will be filled with shooting all five county high school football teams and their cheerleaders as well as any other Fall sport the school may have.

It’s an exciting time for everyone from coaches to players, parents to administrations, and fans from every community as football season seems to present a window of time for everyone to come together and support their teams and let their minds relax if just but for a couple of hours.

A look at the opening night of football which kicks off on Friday, August 20th in Carter County will have Pigeon Forge visiting Hampton, Unaka traveling to North Greene, Happy Valley at Cloudland, and Elizabethton at Science Hill.

What a great way to get the season off on the right foot with such a great opening-night slate.

There are a lot of questions to be answered for the new season.

Will the Elizabethton Cyclones make it a three-peat with a deep stable of players returning. How far can the Cyclones carry their winning streak which currently stands at 30 straight wins?

Can the Unaka Rangers finish in the top two of the conference for a second straight season and host another playoff game? Are the Hampton Bulldogs once again ready to make a strong run in the playoffs and is new head coach Zack Benfield ready to lead his alma mater to another playoff appearance?

So many questions but right now everyone is just ready for a normal football season. In five Friday’s the answers will start to be revealed and I for one cannot wait.