For the next two months, Friday nights across southwest Michigan will showcase the epitome of community pride.

Football stadiums will fill up with high school students, families, alumni and staff, bundled up for a night out of the house.

The smell of hot popcorn and the sound of footsteps on fallen leaves will fill stadiums before fans make their way to their seats, forming seas of school colors on either side of the field. For two hours, an alliance will be formed among everyone cheering for the same team. Folks will put away their smart phones and enjoy the face-to-face company of peers sharing a common interest: supporting their school.

Anyone who has experienced a high school football game knows there is nothing quite like the fervor that builds through the bleachers as a team inches its way to a touchdown, the camaraderie that is experienced through high-fives at first downs and the joy that comes from enjoying crisp autumn nights.

For these reasons, Friday nights in September and October blend three of my favorite things: football, fall and fellowship.

In today’s newspapers, subscribers will have a copy of our annual magazine celebrating each of these things.

The Kickoff highlights much more than football teams, though. Our local cross country, soccer, volleyball, tennis and golf teams are also featured. Fans can find game schedules, previews by coaches and photos of each team.

Those who do not subscribe to the newspaper can still get their hands on The Kickoff. Stop by your local concession stand to pick up a copy, or swing by our office at 217 N. Fourth St. in Niles.

But the fun does not stop there! These magazines are intended to be keepsakes for the players and guides for the fans, but the real scrapbooking material comes in your daily or weekly newspaper. The Dowagiac Daily News, Niles Daily Star, Cassopolis Vigilant and Edwardsburg Argus are chockfull of sports coverage every day throughout the busy seasons, as reported to you by a dedicated staff of sports writers and photographers, committed to capturing memories for these high school athletes and their communities.

In your newspapers each day, you will find game stories and features on players. You will find commentary from sports editor Scott Novak and other sports experts. There are always photos of local athletes, box scores from local games and input from coaches, players — and sometimes even fans!

High school sports bring a community together, and as such are one of the top priorities of a community newspaper. We are honored to capture this school spirit week after week, and hope you will join us in cheering on each of our home teams.