Prep football squads hit the practice turf

High school football is back, and the first kickoff of the season is only 16 days away.

Football programs across the suburbs and throughout the state conducted their first official practices Wednesday in preparation for the 2012 season.

For some programs (Geneva, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Rolling Meadows and Prospect), it also was their first chance to test new synthetic fields installed this summer at their stadiums.

Friday, Aug. 24, is the first date for high school games, and the state pairings for playoffs will be announced on Oct. 20, with first-round games the following week. The season concludes with state title games on Nov. 23 (Class 1A-4A) and Nov. 24 (Class 5A-8A).

Montini Catholic in Lombard will be trying for its fourth consecutive state championship in 5A under head coach Chris Adriano. Montini walloped Joliet Catholic 70-45 in the title game last fall.

Don Beebe's Aurora Christian team will try to defend the 3A crown it captured last season with a 34-7 win over Mt. Carmel, and Prairie Ridge (Crystal Lake) is the defending 6A champion after beating Peoria Richwoods 35-14 in the title game. Wheaton Warrenville South made it to the Class 7A title game for the third straight but lost a 21-14 contest to Rockford Boylan after winning titles in 2009 and 2010.

Ÿ Check back later today for more photos and stories from practices throughout the suburbs on our preps site, and click here for your team's football schedule for the 2012 season.