We made it.
More than eight long months after Calhoun laid claim to yet another Peach State championship, we've circled back around to the beginning of another prep football season. Finally.
So as we kick off our first Friday night of action, here are a few things to watch for this season:
* Bradley Central sophomore receiver Tray Curry (6-4, 200) might be the best player the program has produced in a long, long time. The kid has all the tools to become a big-time college prospect - he's also the nephew of former Cleveland star Dante Hickey - and has an all-state-caliber quarterback in Dylan Standifer throwing to him. The Bears should be fun to watch.
* I said it last year and I'm even more convinced as he enters his second season as Brainerd's head coach: Tyrus Ward is building something special. The Panthers have a sophomore class that might make the program a region contender sooner rather than later.
* The way Chattanooga Christian running back Mondo Ellison, who's added more than 10 pounds of muscle, wears down opponents. At 6-foot-2 and 218 pounds, Ellison is an absolute hammer, and you better believe every 170-pound defensive back the Chargers face is going to get tired of trying to take him on once he has a full head of steam.
* Cleveland defensive end Victor Dodd will be every quarterback's nightmare in Region 2-6A as he comes off the edge. Dodd has a first step that just isn't fair.
* Because he plays for such a small-school program, Grace Academy athlete Cade Tinsley will continue to be underrated. But he shouldn't be. The kid can play.
* Just two years after the program struggled to have enough players to field a competitive team, Signal Mountain has been rebuilt under coach Josh Roberts. The Eagles have around 60 on their roster, including a pair of receivers - Travion Williams and Drew Lowry - who should help them compete with Red Bank in Region 3-3A.
* With the return of 14 starters, including Brannon Spector and Davis Allen, who are both committed to Clemson, Calhoun is the safest bet for an area program to win a state championship.
But this could be a special season when it comes to area teams reaching title games. Among the area's Tennessee teams, McCallie and Notre Dame are legitimate state contenders in Division II-AAA and II-AA, respectively, while things could get very interesting from the quarterfinals on among the public schools. That's when we could have rematches between South Pittsburg and Whitwell in 1A and Marion County and Tyner in Class 2A, and I believe Meigs County will be awaiting the winner of that latter matchup in the semifinals for the right to play for a state crown.
Also look for Red Bank to make another serious run in 3A, but the Lions will have to get past perennial monster Alcoa in the semis. If first-year head coach Chris Brown can pull that off, you might watch for him to just go ahead and retire on the spot.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.