A quick, mild summer, at least by southeast Virginia standards, is fast winding down. So much for the “dog days” that usually cause July and August to drag by — especially for football fans eagerly anticipating a new season.

It’s hard to believe that a new season kicked off Friday night, when Nansemond-Suffolk Academy hosted North Cross to get Suffolk’s high school schedule under way. (See game coverage on Page 7.)

King’s Fork and Lakeland jump in the fray this coming Friday, the Bulldogs hosting Deep Creek and the Cavaliers hosting I.C. Norcom. Nansemond River opens Sept. 5 at Grassfield.

Expectations are off the charts for NSA and King’s Fork, both of which are preseason favorites to make some postseason noise. Coach Joe Jones has a talented, experienced roster at King’s Fork, which is ranked among the top 10 teams in all of Hampton Roads. Coach Lew Johnston at NSA is ditching the Delaware Wing T offense that has been his calling card throughout a highly successful coaching year for a more up-tempo version that nearly carried Auburn University to a national championship last year.

Nansemond River looks to be competitive again in 2014, and rebuilding Lakeland hopes to sneak up on a few foes. We wouldn’t count them out.

Be sure to get a copy of our preseason Football Edition in Friday’s edition of the News-Herald to get the inside scoop from sports writer Titus Mohler on all of Suffolk’s high school teams.

We’re pleased that Duke Automotive will partner with us again this year to honor a Player of the Week. Each week throughout the school year, you the fans will select the honoree from a list of deserving nominees from Suffolk high schools who have excelled on the playing fields. The first slate of nominees will be unveiled on Sunday, Aug. 31.

Male and female Players of the Year will again be honored for the fall, winter and spring seasons, thanks to the generosity of our good friends at Duke.