With August just around the corner, high school football teams across Illinois are gearing up for the first official practice of the season on Wednesday, August 11. Until then football fans will have to settle for seven-on-seven camps and the release of the 2010 football schedules.

The schedule was released on June 30 and shows the road teams will need to navigate in order to make it to the playoffs.

Downers Grove South, as usual, will have high expectations coming off a 9-3 season last year. The Mustangs started slow losing their first two games of the season before rolling off seven straight wins to finish the regular season 7-2. South opened the Class 8A state playoffs last year by beating Waubonsie Valley 22-21 and then knocked off Bolingbrook 22-20. Their season came to an end with a 7-3 loss to Glenbard North in the quarterfinals.

Like last year, the Mustangs’ season will begin with Bolingbrook as the Raiders visit Downers Grove on Aug. 27. South faces another non-conference foe the next week when they host Glenbard West.

The Mustangs open West Suburban Gold play on Sept. 10 as they host Leyden and have another big game the following week as they travel to Downers North for city bragging rights.

After that, South plays five more conference games against Willowbrook (H), Proviso East (A), Hinsdale South (A), Addison Trail (H) and Morton (A) to finish the season.

Downers Grove North is looking to bounce back after a 1-8 season where they experienced a share of close loses. The Trojans dropped three games by six points or less.

North opens the 2010 campaign by hosting Lockport Aug. 27 before travelling to Willowbrook the next week in a pair of non-conference contests.

The Trojans start West Suburban Silver play Sept. 10 by travelling to Lyons and host arch-rival Downers South the following week.

Then it’s back to WSC Silver play as they take on York (A), Proviso West (H), Hinsdale Central (H), Glenbard West (A) and Oak Park-River Forest (H).