The wait is just about over.

For football fans across south Mississippi and the entrire state for that matter, the action for real gets started this week.

Yes, game week is finally here.

All four local prep teams get started this week, playing their respective season openers on Friday.

All three Pearl River County teams hits the road to open the season, as Picayune travels to Moss Point, Pearl River Central to South Jones and Poplarville to West Jones.

Hancock is the only team to start the year at home, as the Hawks host Stone High.

Pearl River Central hosted Perry Central in a half game scrimmage on Friday and the Blue Devils pulled out a 7-0 win.

Locally, action actually gets started one day before as Pearl River Community College hosts Holmes in the juco season opener for both on Thursday at Dobie Holden Satdium.

Then on Saturday, all of the Big Three get started as Ole Miss hosts Memphis, USM hosts Louisiana-Lafayette and Mississippi State travels to Louisiana Tech.

The annual juco, college and pro preview is included in today’s edition of the Picayune Item.

On Wednesday, the annual Prep Preview will be featured. And beginning on Thursday, Fanfare returns as well with plenty of features and previews on all of the local teams.