Chuckey-Doak is the first local team to kick off the 2008 season when the Black Knights entertain Unaka on Thursday night.

"We are looking forward to getting started," said Black Knight coach Ben Murphy. "We've had a good summer practice. We've beat around on each other for a few weeks, and we are ready to play somebody else in an actual game."

The Black Knights are looking for a solid 2008 season with more than a dozen seniors on this year's team.

Greeneville and South Greene both open their respective seasons on Friday, both at home.

South Greene welcomes Unicoi County, and Greeneville will officially open the remodeled Burley Stadium against Jefferson County.

In other games around the area Thursday night, Sullivan North is at David Crockett, Tennessee High visits Dobyns-Bennett and Virginia High is at Sullivan Central.

On Friday night around the area, Cherokee plays host to the Grainger Grizzlies and Morristown West entertains Knox Catholic in Region 2-4A. In Region 1-2A, Cumberland Gap is home to Thomas Walker (Va.), Gatlinburg-Pittman goes to Tellico Plains and Elizabethton plays at Happy Valley. In Region 1-5A, Sullivan South is at Science Hill, Campbell County goes to Union County, Lenoir City visits Karns, Bearden hosts Knox Carter and Sevier County is at William Blount. The Region 1-1A schedule Friday has Avery Co. (N.C.) at Cloudland, Cosby at Gibbs, Hampton at Johnson County and Jellico at Oakdale.

For a full preview of all five local high school teams as well as conference roundups and previews on Tusculum College and Tennessee, be sure to pick up a copy of this year's football edition which will be in Thursday's Greeneville Sun.