By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
GREEN BAY – Welcome back to another season of high school football.
It’s one of the most exciting times of the year.
The Packers are just a few short weeks away from opening the regular season, and the high school season gets underway this week.
Seven local teams in the Fox River Classic Conference (FRCC) begin play Aug. 22, while the Bay Conference follows the next night.
When The Press Times expanded into Green Bay last March, one of the first things we discussed was putting together a high school football preview tab for the 2019 season.
Five months later, here we are.
The previews are approximately 500 words each and contain the team’s schedule.
Each preview is also accompanied by a coach’s spotlight – highlighting the men that will lead their teams into battle on Friday nights.
Alphabetically, Ashwaubenon will appear first, while West De Pere brings up the anchor.
Ashwaubenon, Bay Port, De Pere, Green Bay Preble, Green Bay Southwest, Notre Dame Academy and Pulaski all play in the FRCC, while Green Bay East, Green Bay West and West De Pere participate in the Bay.
This will be the last season of the two conferences as they are now.
Beginning in 2020, all three of the above-mentioned Bay Conference teams will join the newly-created two-division FRCC.
Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran/Oneida Nation is a co-op team which plays 8-man football – they are also included in our preview tab.
Bay Port, which last lost a conference game in 2015, has won 27 consecutive FRCC games.
The Pirates have advanced to the WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinals each of the last three seasons.
Anchored by two NCAA Division I verbal commits in Braden Doyle (Central Michigan University) and Max Meeuwsen (Naval Academy), Bay Port has a legitimate shot to bring home a state title this year.
There are plenty of other storylines to ponder.
Can West De Pere get back to state?
The Phantoms lost a bit of talent after suffering a stunning 37-24 loss to Catholic Memorial in the WIAA Division 3 state title game last season.
West De Pere held a 24-0 lead in the third quarter before Memorial scored 37 consecutive points to capture the title.
Ashwaubenon has a new coach in Brian Ryczkowksi – can the Jags continue their 21-year streak of making it to the postseason?
Former coach Mark Jonas stepped down after 10 years at the helm.
Who will win the historic Green Bay East/Green Bay West game?
How will Pulaski handle losing the state’s 2018 offensive player of the year in Dylan Hendricks due to graduation?
Hendricks rushed for 2,833 yards and scored 32 touchdowns.
Can De Pere advance to the postseason for a second straight year?
Will Notre Dame challenge West De Pere once again for area Division 3 supremacy?
Preble won its first six games in 2018 but lost its final four.
Can the Hornets bounce back this season?
Southwest missed the playoffs last year – is the postseason in 2019 a possibility for the Trojans?
How will the first year N.E.W. Lutheran/Oneida Nation co-op team play as a united group?
Every team has hope this time of the year, so it’s fun to predict where everyone will finish.
I am excited to see how things shake out.