It’s about two hours into our drive back from Port Aransas — a late-summer holiday to the Texas coast — when we stop to fuel up our rented white minivan. Looking across what can generously be called the Pettus skyline, I spot the lights, easy to see considering they’re by far the tallest structure in this town of 558 residents. As my wife, sons and in-laws return to the vehicle, I inform them that I’m cashing in my credit, Dad’s one opportunity to detour.

We make our way across town, turning off the smoothly paved state highway and onto the more rough-and-tumble local roads, and pull into the parking lot of James V. Beauchamp Stadium, nestled alongside the stone-covered Pettus High School.

Beauchamp Stadium isn’t one of those hulking Texas high school football stadiums that makes “The Today Show.” It’s modest by Texas standards, a 1,235-capacity set of bleachers on either side of pristine turf, flanked on either end by brilliant maroon and gold end zones, the colors of the homestanding War Eagles.

The stadium is empty, the heat radiating off the turf. It’s quiet.

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In the central Texas town of Abbott, Terry Crawford is fixing a field painter — the kind of responsibility that falls to the head football coach, athletic director, health teacher and minister in a six-man football town. The Panthers were supposed to be playing on turf this year, but that didn’t happen, and they’re certainly going to need lines for their game against Blum, so here we are.

The Panthers’ game on Friday will be Crawford’s 32nd opening night as Abbott's coach, and his final one — he’s retiring at the end of the season to go into ministry full-time.

“It’s going to be odd Friday night, knowing it’s the last opening game that I have,” Crawford says. “There’s been a lot of reflection about the journey, about where I was, where I started, where I’m at now, all the bumps between.”

Crawford knows the Panthers’ program, which he built into a state champion and perennial contender, is in good hands moving forward — his son Kyle, an assistant on the staff, is one of the candidates to take his place. But that won’t make Week 1 any easier.

“I didn’t think it’d be hard,” Crawford says. “I’m finding it’s a lot harder to walk away than I thought it’d be.”

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You can hear the excitement in Carl Robinson’s voice.

“I can’t explain it,” Robinson says. “It’s a moment I’ve been waiting for since I got into this business. I’ve been dreaming about this Friday night for months.”

A proud son of East Dallas and product of Dallas ISD, Robinson is the new head coach of the Bryan Adams Cougars, around the corner from his childhood home. He was promoted from his defensive coordinator position in the offseason, his first head coaching job. On Friday night, he’ll lead his team — comprised of young men from the same streets on which he grew up — across town to Fort Worth to face the Chisholm Trail Rangers, his first game as a head coach. His parents will be in the stands, along with a group of friends and extended family who remember him as a young man growing up around these parts.

“I can’t wait,” Robinson says. “We get to show people what we’re about. My coaches, we came in this morning for our meeting, and all we’re talking about is, can we just skip to Friday?”

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It was never supposed to happen here in Anahuac, this sleepy bayside town halfway between Houston and Beaumont.

“There was just a lot of shock and disbelief,” says Greg Neece, head football coach of the hometown Panthers. “You just can’t believe it’s happening. You always hear about it happening at other schools.”

It was less than two weeks ago when, on their way back from the beach on one of the last Saturday nights of summer, a car carrying three Anahuac football players was involved in a fiery crash. Javion West and Travon Williams were killed; Gage Leath remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

Less than 24 hours after the accident, the home stands of Kyle White Stadium were full for a candlelight vigil. Neece spoke to the gathered grief-stricken community, memorializing Javion’s infectious smile; remembering Travon’s love of being a part of the team; bragging on Gage’s peerless work ethic. They were Anahuac Panthers, yes, but moreso, they were Anahuac’s kids.

On Friday, Anahuac will travel to Newton with three empty bus seats.

“We’ve been talking to our kids that life doesn’t stop,” Neece says. “When we step on the field, it’s going to feel a little strange. Those three guys are missing. I’m sure it’s going to be emotional in the locker room. We just need to get to the start of the game, and we can put some stuff on the back burner for a little while and play football.”

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Things are much quieter around Uvalde coach Wade Miller’s office these days.

It’s been nearly 15 months since the unconscionable mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that left 19 grade-schoolers and two teachers dead, 17 others wounded, and an entire community shattered forever.

Miller’s an old football coach. The quieter days suit him just fine.

“I’m about normalcy and routine,” Miller says. “I love it to be out of the spotlight. By the end of last year, we didn’t really notice the cameras. But it’s kind of refreshing that when we have a practice, it’s just us.”

The Coyotes instituted a variety of traditions to remember the 21 souls lost in the tragedy, and those traditions will continue at every game, including their season opener Saturday against San Antonio Jefferson at the Alamodome. The community will never be the same, but Miller marvels at his Coyotes’ ability to persevere.

“These kids in this town have been through more than any group of kids maybe ever,” Miller says. “It’s a testament not just to the Uvalde kids, but just how resilient kids can be and really are.”

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The hottest ticket in Texas is in — of all places — Wichita Falls.

“It’s going to be a crazy atmosphere,” says Grant Freeman, head coach of the Wichita Falls Coyotes. “It’s going to be one of those Hollywood moments. I’ve had people from California and New York call me to tell me they’re flying in.”

On Friday night, Memorial Stadium will host the 62nd and final rivalry game between Wichita Falls and crosstown rival Rider High. At the end of the school year, Wichita Falls ISD will close all three of its high schools — Old High, Rider and Hirschi — to consolidate into two brand-new schools.

It’ll mark the end of the rivalry, yes, but also the coda of one of Texas high school football’s most decorated programs. Since its first season in 1903, Wichita Falls has played 1,182 games (9th most in state history), winning 691 of them (21st all-time) and capturing six state championships (tied for 11th most).

Rider leads the rivalry series comfortably, including winning the last nine meetings. One last time, in front of the biggest crowd in community history, the Coyotes and Raiders will tee it up.

“I don’t even know how to put it in perspective,” says Freeman, who will coach the Coyotes’ final season before becoming the district's athletic director full-time. “You’re closing a chapter on something that’s been so special for this community for a long time.”

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The Patton Springs Rangers have eight players this season.

You probably read that sentence wrong. Let’s try again: The Patton Springs Rangers have eight players this season!

“Last year, I had to go out and chase kids for two-a-days, tell them that we really need a football team,” coach Juan Salas says. “We had eight kids show up for two-a-days, but they showed up willingly. They wanted to play. We’re good to go.”

Such is life in tiny Afton — about 60 miles east of Lubbock, located between the relative metropolises of Matador and Dickens. Patton Springs boasts an enrollment of 25 students, making it one of the smallest schools in the state that’ll field a six-man football team this year.

The Rangers went 1-9 last season, a remarkable achievement.

“If we field a team for a full season and compete every week, that’s what you want,” Salas says. “The wins and losses are great, but just finishing the season would be huge for us. Every home game is a big opportunity for us; the community gets fired up.”

On Friday night, all eight Rangers will host Vernon Northside in the season opener. Salas says most of the 360 bleacher seats will be full, and there’ll be more folks in their trucks against the fence lining the outskirts of Ralph Marshall Field. Patton Springs celebrates homecoming every other year; it’s scheduled for September 21 against Olfen.

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Ryan Pannell started coaching his son early. Real early.

“We’ve begun bodyweight training,” Pannell laughs. “We’re focusing on the traps and the neck. We call it tummy time.”

Ryan and his wife Logan became a family of three when little Britt arrived on July 28. It’s a new adventure for the Pannells in a year full of them — the couple moved to Logan’s hometown of Sonora in the offseason, with Ryan joining head coach Blake Weston’s staff at Sonora High as an assistant.

Ryan grew up in a family of coaches — his dad Jeff was his head coach during his playing days as a quarterback at San Saba. So while the diaper changes and late-night feedings are new, Ryan says the feeling on Friday night will be familiar.

“To have my son watching me for the first time, I’ll be super proud,” Ryan says. “I watched my dad coach all those years and I wanted to be just like him. Flash forward and here we are, living my dream and my family’s dream, coaching football with a baby boy in the stands, in my wife’s hometown. It’ll be a full circle moment.”

Sonora opens the season Friday in Ballinger, about 100 miles away. So it’ll be Britt’s first road trip, too.

“We have the ear muffs, we have the diaper bag,” Ryan says. “We’re ready.”

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The late-morning sun is bearing down at Beauchamp Stadium. Pettus will travel to Runge to open their season. After that, the War Eagles will return here for their home opener against La Pryor. This quiet will be replaced by raucous cheers and hollered playcalls and whispered gossip and the ambient murmur of a community gathered together.

I snap a photo and walk back to the van. I wonder what story Pettus will put on this canvas. Whatever it is, it’ll be profoundly theirs.