It's the best time of the year, football fanatics.

It's almost time for the start of the high school football season.

The 2008 West Virginia prep season is scheduled to kick off on Friday night across the state.

It's a time of optimism and excitement for Logan County teams Man, Chapmanville and Logan, which are hoping to get the new grid campaign off to a good start.

Logan, playing at the Triple-A level for the first time in six years, is scheduled to open the season with its traditional county rival Man. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Logan Stadium.

The Wildcats beat the Hillbillies 33-14 last season at Man, but have dropped the last two meetings with their rival at home as Logan fell to MHS in 2004 and 2006.

Logan went 6-5 last season and made it to the Class AA playoffs before bowing in the opening round to Berkeley Springs.

Man was just 2-8 last season but look to contend for a Class A playoff spot again this fall.

The Billies haven't made it to the postseason since 2005 when they were a quarterfinalist.

The Chapmanville Regional High School Tigers also opens the season on Friday night with a Cardinal Conference road contest at Sissonville.

Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

The Tigers, 8-4 last season and a Class AA playoff quarterfinalist, will be looking for revenge on the Indians which have beaten Chapmanville in each of the previous two seasons.