Cook: The most important football game of the season

The referee shows the coin to the captains before the toss. The Marion County Warriors faced the Trezevant Bears in the Division I Class 2A Tennessee State Football Championships in the BlueCross Bowl at Tennessee Tech's Tucker Stadium on Saturday, December 5, 2015. The referee shows the coin to the captains before the toss. The Marion County Warriors faced the Trezevant Bears in the Division I Class 2A Tennessee State Football Championships in the BlueCross Bowl at Tennessee Tech's Tucker Stadium on Saturday, December 5, 2015.

By David Cook July 24, 2016 5 min read

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The most important football game of the season

The referee tells injured captain Billy Morrisonn (55) that the Indians has won the toss. The Whitwell Tigers visited the Sequatchie County Indians in TSSAA football action Friday night, August 28, 2015, in Dunlap, Tennessee.

The referee directs the team captains before the coin toss. The Gordon Lee Trojans visited the Dade County Wolverines in GHSA football action Thursday night, November 5, 2015.

The referee instructs the team captains before the coin toss. The Bledsoe County Warriors visited the Brainerd Panthers in TSSAA football action Friday night, October 23, 2015.

Tyner coach Wayne Turner, left, and Meigs County coach Jason Fitzgerald enjoy a lighter moment with head referee Marc O'Neal before Friday's game.

The referee instructs the captains before the coin toss. The Bledsoe County Warriors visited the Sequatchie County Indians in TSSAA football action Saturday September 25, 2015.

Notre Dame head coach Charles Fant consults a referee during the Notre Dame vs. Tyner prep football game at Tyner High School on Friday, Aug. 28, 2015 in Chattanooga, Tenn. (Staff photo by Maura Friedman)

High school football practice begins this week. For months, they’ve been lifting off-season weights, running, reviewing film, working up to the best season of their lives.

Not the players.

Not the coaches.

The refs.

Yes, the refs. The officials. The guys in zebra stripes with the yellow flag in their pocket and whistle around their neck. You know, the guys we love to heckle and hate.