We are now hours away from the 2022 high school football season — a time of year filled with hope, promise and eager anticipation.

Athletes, coaches and fans are ready. The same could be said about The Messenger sports staff, which spent weeks preparing for the upcoming campaign by piecing together its 65th Football Preview.

That special edition arrives on your doorstep today, with 56 pages of content covering our 18 schools.

Comprehensive reports from Fort Dodge, St. Edmond and the 16 Messengerland programs are included in both story and photo form. Schedules and player breakdowns offer a taste of what’s to come from each squad.

This award-winning preview, which was first published in 1958, is a preseason staple for area readers. It is the oldest and last of its kind in Iowa.

The Messenger sports department dedicates its time and resources to making sure the tradition of excellence — well over six full decades in the making — continues. Eric Pratt, Chris Johnson, Dana Becker and Britt Kudla collectively share a passion for telling the stories of the athletes at schools across north-central Iowa, both today and all season long.

Best of luck to all area teams under the Friday night lights tonight and in the weeks to come!