The chill of the fall air. The sound of the drum cadence as the band marches off the field, and the buzz of the crowd in the stands. The smell of pork chops and popcorn in the breeze. Now the lights are starting to take hold against the sunset sky.

It’s time for kickoff.

For local high school football coaches such as Ottawa ’s Chad Gross, Streator ’s Jay Slone and Seneca ’s Terry Maxwell, those days when they were making the blocks and tackles are still some of the best memories they have.

Gross played center, defensive line and long-snapper for the Pirates for two years, with 2002 his senior season, before playing at St. Xavier University in Chicago.

“We always had great crowds, and playing at King Field was special,” Gross said. “Our coach, Tim Jobst, was always talking to us a

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