Area gridiron teams will take part in their first official day of pre-season on Monday as the high school football season is set to begin.

There are plenty of Times News area teams that are looking to get back to the postseason, while others are trying to bounce back from subpar 2013 campaigns.Lehighton was just given some preseason love from the Anthracite Football League coaches as it was picked to finish second in the league. This will be Lehighton's first season in the AFL. The Indians certainly do return a talented bunch that qualified for the District 11 AAA playoffs in 2013. They're led by linebacker/running back Wyatt Clements. Clements proved to be a game changer last season and fits the mold of a blue collar type guy that the Indians will need to have success in the AFL.Northwestern could very well be the most talented team in the area. The Tigers won the AA Eastern Conference Championship a year ago and return TN leading rusher Harry Hall. They also return do it all player Cam Richardson as well, so look for the Tigers to make some noise in the Colonial League.Marian is also looking to capitalize off a strong post season from a year ago when it won the Eastern Conference A title. The Colts return experience along with a lot of team speed. The key for them will be to keep the player in their quarterback spot healthy as they had some issues with last season.Jim Thorpe shocked the AFL, going 7-1 in league play, winning the AFL title. They also qualified for the AAA Eastern Conference Playoffs, so it will certainly be a goal for the Olympians to get back to the postseason. They must replace TN Player of the Year Ryan Saunders II, who accounted for over 2,500 yards of total offense. Besides the QB spot Thorpe returns a lot talent at the skill spots and on the defensive side of the ball.Pleasant Valley had a successful run under head coach Jim Terwilliger, but now he is gone and Dave Pacchioni is the new man on the job. Bears fans shouldn't fret however, because Pacchioni spent four years under Terwilliger and will surely bring the same stability that brought the Bears success. PV's talent is always there and it will surely look to get the ball to junior and back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher Austyn Borre.TN teams Northern Lehigh, Palmerton, Panther Valley, and Tamaqua all missed out on the postseason a year ago.Perennial playoff team Northern Lehigh will look to get back on track, but will still feature a young football team.Palmerton is looking to make this year a comeback season. The Bombers return a lot of experience and will look to climb the Colonial ranks in 2014.Panther Valley is under the new direction of coach Matt Davis. Davis has improved PV's numbers and hopes to grind out a few more "W's".Lastly, Tamaqua will once again feature a vaunted defense, but have some questions on the offensive side of the ball. If the Raiders younger offensive players can make some plays look for them to be battling atop the AFL once again.Below are the practice times, scrimmage times, and expected numbers for each TN football squad:JIM THORPEHead coach: Mark RosenbergerPractice schedule: 7:15-9:15 a.m.; 12:15-2:40 p.m.Turnout: Varsity (grades 9-12) 46Scrimmages: Saturday, Aug. 16 vs. Kutztown 10 a.m.; Thursday, Aug. 21 vs. Palmerton 7 p.m.MARIANHead coach: Stan DakostyPractice schedule: 8:35-11 a.m.; 1-3:20 p.m.Turnout: Varsity (grades 9-12) 46Scrimmages: Saturday, Aug. 16 vs. Northern Lehigh 10 a.m.; Thursday, Aug. 21 at Catasauqua 5:30 p.m.PANTHER VALLEYHead coach: Matt DavisPractice schedule: 7:30-9:30 a.m., 10-11 a.m., 12:15-2:30 p.m.Turnout: Varsity (grades 9-12) 54Scrimmages: Saturday, Aug. 16 at Palmerton 10 a.m.; Friday, Aug. 22 vs. Salisbury 6 p.m.TAMAQUAHead coach: Sam BonnerPractice schedule: Monday, Aug. 11, 7-9:15 a.m. and 1-3:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 12, 8:30-10:45 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 13, intrasquad scrimmage 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and practice 1:30-4 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 14, lifting 10:30-11:30 a.m. and practice 1:30-4:00 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 15, 12:45-4 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 18, 8-10:30 a.m. and 1-3:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 19, 7-9:15 a.m. and 12:30-2:45 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 20, 5:45-7:30 p.m.Turnout: Varsity (grades 9-12) 44Scrimmages: Saturday, Aug. 16 at Hamburg 10 a.m.; Thursday, Aug. 21 vs. Northwestern 6 p.m.PLEASANT VALLEYHead coach: David PacchioniPractice schedule: Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; 3-6 p.m.Turnout: Varsity (grades 10-12) 76Scrimmages: Saturday, Aug. 16 at Nazareth 10 a.m.; Friday, Aug. 22 vs. Scranton Prep 6 p.m.LEHIGHTONHead coach: Tom McCarrollPractice schedule: 8-11 a.m.; 2-5 p.m.Turnout: Varsity (grades 9-12) 45Scrimmages: Saturday, Aug. 16 vs. Catasauqua 10 a.m.; Thursday, Aug. 21 vs. Northern Lehigh 6 p.m.NORTHERN LEHIGHHead coach: Joe ToutPractice schedule: 8-10:30 a.m.; 1:30-3:30 p.m.Turnout: Varsity (grades 9-12) 36Scrimmages: Saturday, Aug. 16 at Marian 10 a.m.; Thursday, Aug. 21 vs. Lehighton 6 p.m.NORTHWESTERNHead coach: Josh SnyderPractice schedule: 8-10:30 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Also, when teachers return to school 6-8 a.m.; 3-5:30 p.m.Turnout: Varsity (grades 9-12) 43Scrimmages: Saturday, Aug. 16 vs. Pottsville 10 a.m.; Thursday, Aug. 21 at Tamaqua 6 p.m.PALMERTONHead coach: Chris WalkowiakPractice schedule: 7:30-10:30 a.m.; 12:50-2:50 p.m.Turnout: Varsity (grades 9-12) 57Scrimmages: Saturday, Aug. 16 vs. Panther Valley; Thursday, Aug. 21 at Jim Thorpe 7 p.m.(Capsules compiled by Brad Hurley, Patrick Matsinko, Justin Carlucci)