Can we really be just hours away from kicking off the 2016 high school football season?

The summer always seems to fly by and with District 11 football teams starting the regular season a week earlier this year, that feeling has definitely been accelaerated.One of the best things about this time of year is that every team is undefeated and still entertains championship dreams.No matter what last season's record was, no matter how many starters graduated, no matter what the experts predict, the dream is alive for everyone at this time of year.The same can be said about the grid picks race. No matter how bad (I did) last year, despite the fact that it might be a decade since (I won) a title, (my) dream is still there. (I) can only hope that will still be the case a few weeks from now.There will be a change in the Times News grid picks column this year. After years of doing the column, Ed Hedes and his crystal ball have officially retired.In his place, the 10 Times News staffers who will make picks this year will alternate this column throughout the season.I get the opportunity to tell you who I think the winners will be in week one.So let's get started:JIM THORPE AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Jim Thorpe must find away to replace the huge contributions of Robbie Heller. Having to do that against a Haven team that was voted the top team in Division 2 of the Schuylkill League by both the coaches and the media isn't an ideal situation ... Schuylkill Haven, 21-14FLEETWOOD AT LEHIGHTON - Lehighton has a new stadium and lots of new players. But sometimes the more things change, the more they stay the same. Expect the same type of result that Indian fans were treated to most of last season ... Lehighton, 40-7PENNS VALLEY AT MARIAN - Marian will be celebrating Stan Dakosty's 40th season as head coach. In honor of that, I expect the Colts to put up 40+ points and make Penns Valley's two-hour bus ride home seem even longer ... Marian 48-13COLUMBIA-MONTOUR VO-TECH at PANTHER VALLEY ... Panther Valley coach Matt Davis has stressed playing four quarters of football to his team after the Panthers saw some games slip away in the second half a year ago. Look for the Panthers to have a nice cushion to work with in the second half of this one ... Panther Valley, 35-6MINERSVILLE AT TAMAQUA - Tamaqua hasn't received much respect in the preseason as it was picked last in Division 1 of the Schuylkill League by both the media and the coaches. I expect the Raiders to be better than advertised. Look for them to flex their muscles in this non-league opener ... Tamaqua, 28-0NORTHERN LEHIGH AT SOUTHERN LEHIGH - It's Northern vs. Southern in the civil war of Lehigh Country. The North wins the civil war, right? ... Northern Lehigh, 21-20NORTHWESTERN AT PALMERTON - Shouldn't this game be played in late October? The Colonial League has adjusted its schedule this year so this traditional late-season contest in now kicking off the season. It should be a wide-open Colonial League race with the winner getting an early jump ... Northwestern, 24-21NAZARETH AT PLEASANT VALLEY - The Bears have struggled in recent openers, losing eight straight. The Bears' last season opening victory came in 2007 against Nazareth. Mark Versuk will be looking to end that string of losses in his debut as Pleasant Valley's head coach ... Nazareth, 35-28ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC AT FREEDOM ... Central is one of the favorites in the EPC North and Freedom is one of the favorites in the EPC South. Expect a tight one ... Freedom, 28-27BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC AT POCONO MOUNTAIN WEST - The Golden Hawks are another team that should contend in the EPC South ... Bethlehem Catholic, 48-8TOWANDA AT MAHANOY AREA - The Golden Bears played in the District 11 Class A championship game a year ago. Towanda is coming off a 2-8 season ... Mahanoy Area, 27-6PEN ARGYL AT WILSON - These two teams combined for just three wins a year ago. Who is going to be the most improved this season? ... Pen Argyl, 21-7SAUCON VALLEY AT BANGOR - Saucon Valley has won back-to-back Colonial League titles. Despite huge losses from last season's state playoff team, the Panthers could contend in the CL again this season ... Saucon Valley, 42-14EAST STROUDSBURG NORTH AT NORTHAMPTON - Neither team is being touted as a contender in the EPC. This looks like a toss-up, but since my daughters graduated from Northampton that breaks the tie ... Northampton, 21-13SHENANDOAH AT NORTH SCHUYLKILL - The Spartans had some key losses but they are still the same program that has been a league and district contender for close to a decade ... North Schuylkill, 38-0