When the whistle blows tonight at football fields across the area, the 2015 high school football season will begin its prime time action.

Players, coaches, fans and support staff members are to be commended for all of the hard work put in up to this point.

Football is more than merely showing up on Friday nights, putting on the armor and going to battle. It’s much, much more.

For weeks, players have been working to get themselves in tip-top form. Coaches have been working diligently to craft the best plays to utilize the abilities and talents of the players on their rosters.

Our area has a long history of producing excellent athletes, and in recent years, several schools have either won state championships or gone deep into the playoffs.

Let’s hope this year is no different.

Football is a game, yes, but it’s also an American pastime for many, and our area is no different.

As kickoff begins tonight, we ask everyone in the area to pause and pray for the players’ safety and success on the field.

In the end, we all know it’s just a game, but we cannot help but be fans rooting for all area teams. Good luck this year and realize, the entire area is behind you, win, lose or draw.