It’s hard to explain. It’s a funny little annual feeling I get right around this time of the year.

And then it doesn’t really go away until December.

High school football is important to so many people across the country. But if you’re a fan or have been involved with the sport one way or the other locally, you know we’re fortunate to live in a state with countless quality programs and people, full of tradition, discipline and integrity.

Once you cross through the Lehigh Tunnel on I-476N, and enter Carbon (and eventually) Schuylkill County, things are different.

This isn’t a knock on any other league or region in the surrounding area, but I’ll just say it: high school football in our coverage area is the best. I’m not talking about the talent, I’m talking about the synergy and the legacy among its peers and everyone involved.

Last night, I took my dog for a quick walk around 1 a.m. when I was working late. It was 60 degrees and beautiful outside and all I could think about was football. It just felt like football. I suddenly got a mixed rush of excitement, nostalgia and optimism.

“What is it, how is it? It’s hard to even put it into words,” said Tom McCarroll, Lehighton head football coach, who thankfully knew exactly what I was talking about.

“It’s almost like that saying you see everywhere; if you know, you know. It’s one of those things where you almost have to experience it. You almost have to be in it to really understand the gravity of it.”

The brisk weather certainly plays a factor in getting this local football feeling. But the community support for each of its respective football programs also plays a hand and is second to none - through all of the highs and lows - which helps create excitement.

The tradition.

The Schuylkill League was founded in 1934. That’s insane!

“It’s definitely something that’s passed down through generations,” said Sam Bonner, Tamaqua head football coach. “So many parents grew up in the area who are still a part of it. There’s always that loyalty to their school that they passed down to their kids.

“I went up to the Hometown auction last week and I had at least five people ask how’s the team look? You’re starting to turn that corner, people getting away from the whole COVID thing and everyone is looking forward to packing the stadiums this year. There’s a feeling when you start getting that weather again.”

Maybe we’re close to determining the ingredients of what goes into making HS football provide such a special feeling for everyone involved.

Community pride, fall weather, tradition - and how about effort and integrity? It “ain’t” called the Coal Region for nothin’.

Countless blue-collar, historically hard-working people made a living and raised families throughout the region. That type of demeanor never left the locals and was passed down to their children and grandchildren. And to no surprise, every area football program has instilled the same morals, principles and attitude.

“It’s hard to explain it if you didn’t live it,” said Matt Davis, Northern Lehigh assistant football coach, who previously was head coach at Panther Valley.

The local football community is a close-knit bunch. Everyone knows everyone - including the media. The familiarity aspect is fun. I once got heckled for picking Minersville over Jim Thorpe in my Grid Picks while I was just trying to get groceries at Boyer’s. I love it (and I stink at Grid Picks).

There are many factors that make local high school football here so great. Let’s all play our part in making this season an unforgettable one. Everyone deserves it, especially the student athletes. If you don’t have that funny, tangible football feeling yet, you must not be from the Coal Region area. Or maybe, you’ll get it in a week or two, when scrimmages start and the excitement rises.

“It’s just a buzz,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger. “The hallways in the school buildings are abuzz. There just seems to be a lot more enthusiasm in the school on a Friday morning ­- a pep rally later in the day, it really is an electric feeling.”