The high school football season kicks off tonight, and once more, our 10 Times News staff members are at the starting gate, ready to begin their quest for the Bob Ford Memorial Grid Picks Trophy.

All hail Heckman

Back atop the standings last season was Rod Heckman. In the past 10 years, he’s a five-time outright winner, has shared the title twice and has finished in the top five every year.

Out of the gate, Heckman is the favorite at my 2-1 odds to win the trophy for the second year in a row.

After winning the title in 2024, Yours Truly finished second a season ago, but a full 12 games behind the champion. I have the privilege of setting my own odds at 4-1. Justin Carlucci, a perennial frontrunner and 2021 winner, is at 6-1.

Another serious contender, based on his two previous titles and half-dozen top-three finishes, is Brad Hurley. I’m sliding Hurley just behind Heckman with odds of 3-1.

Our sports editor, Pat Matsinko, won the Grid Picks title in 2016 and has remained a consistent contender. After four consecutive third-place finishes, he slipped to sixth last year. Matsinko is a 9-1 bet to win it all.

Sam Matta, once a back-of-the-pack runner, has made recent strides to compete with the race leaders, finishing in the top five three of the last five years. Matta kicks off at 12-1 to hold the gold.

Jeff Moeller, Mike Haines and TJ Engle all faded from the leaders last year. Their odds are 20-1 each.

That leaves retired sports editor Emmett McCall. He finished 29 games behind Heckman last year and sat inside the Pundit Pit for the entire offseason. I’m predicting he’ll climb out this fall, but he won’t go too far. McCall is at 50-1 to win the trophy.

Our eternal flame

Our trophy has carried Bob Ford’s name since his untimely passing in 2021. Ford was a longtime, award-winning photographer with the Times News and a regular participant in the Grid Picks race. He won titles in 2013 and 2017.

Not only is his artistic photography missed at the sports desk, but we also remember his generous distribution of sarcasm. If he mocked you with his surly sense of humor, you never got mad at him because you were too busy laughing with him.

Gone, but never forgotten.

I was honored to have my name engraved on his namesake trophy two years ago.

Flippin’ the coin on Week One

The start of the season brings some of the toughest games to pick. Last year’s records can help, but heavy graduation losses can quickly change a school’s football fortunes. A powerhouse a year ago might be rebuilding this season.

Every game is pretty much a toss-up, and we pickers won’t get a good feel for the teams until about Week Three.

Two local matchups headline the start of the season.

Tamaqua is at Lehighton. Two veteran coaches, Sam Bonner and Tom McCarroll, will have their squads ready to lock horns tonight. A veteran offensive line could very well lead the Tribe to a successful 2026 campaign, so Lehighton gets the nod here, but expect the Raiders to hang tough well into the second half.

The other local game is Palmerton at Marian. The Colts finished strong a year ago, while the Bombers struggled, though their strength of schedule had much to do with that.

This game is a roll of the dice.

Other local teams in action include Pleasant Valley, Panther Valley, Northern Lehigh, Jim Thorpe and Northwestern. The Tigers, boasting a 57-5 record over the past four years, are primed for another highly successful season.

Out-of-Area Game of the Week

Continuing a feature from my previous years writing this column, my pick for Week One is North Schuylkill at Jersey Shore, two outstanding football programs that have made strong playoff runs in recent years.

The Spartans were hit hard by graduation. Joe Tomtishen replaces longtime coach Wally Hall. Sophomore quarterback Brock Holmes leads an offense that also features Angel Ortiz, who rushed for 220 yards and a touchdown on 44 carries last season while also contributing as a receiver.

Jersey Shore, 8-4 last season, brings an explosive offense into this season that just might carry it to another district championship. Quarterback Nolen Pauling accounted for 2,441 total yards and 27 touchdowns while throwing just two interceptions a year ago. Running back Kash Herritt rushed for 698 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 7.6 yards per carry.

I like the Bulldogs to take down the Spartans. There’s too much firepower to keep Jersey Shore out of the end zone.

Week One fun

Usually, there are three to five unanimous picks each week. Week One has two: Northwestern to defeat Valley View and Blue Mountain to win at home against Jim Thorpe.

Expect Heckman to storm out of the starting gate and sit in the top five as he begins his title defense. He has three different winners than those tabbed by Yours Truly and Hurley.

So, here we go again.

A new Grid Picks season kicks off with everyone trying to wrestle the Bob Ford Memorial Grid Picks Trophy away from Heckman. From now until the season ends in November, the race promises to be a lot of fun.

Who will jump into first place?

Next week, we’ll find out.