Through my years in covering high school sports, I realize that football coaches have it tough. They're hands are full with organizing road trips, mentoring young men, creating game plans and of course, dreaming up new and creative clichés to drop on sports reporters. Hey, this is an 80-hour-a-week job so I wonder if they ever truly have the time for the important task of motivating players?

That's where I come in... Coaches and players, I'm making your jobs easier! Introducing the first edition of "Bulletin Board Material" - where I predict the winners of several upcoming Friday night games. To the layman, this is just a picks list but to the trained and paranoid eye of the football fan, this is "bulletin board material" ... if your team isn't picked as the winner, you can view it as a clear and apparent diss and in thus, this perceived slight will motivate your team to play harder.

Trust me, I'm sure somewhere these picks will be printed out and displayed in somebody's locker room. So "You're welcome, Coaches!" I'll provide the bulletin board material and y'all can just worry about playing the game.

Kansas opens this week, so let's start there:

Bishop Miege at Atchison. Hmmm. Miege has a kid committed to Oklahoma (Justin McKay), Atchison doesn't. Easy. Winner: Bishop Miege

Lawrence Free State at Olathe East. I just don't see Olathe East falling off much from its 9-1 season, plus the Hawks should be better balanced offensively. Winner: Olathe East

Shawnee Mission West at Olathe South. Just like Olathe East in many ways, I don't worry about SM West falling off after losing good players. D.J. Balazs is a solid enough QB and the running game's always there. Winner: SM West

Rockhurst at Hutchinson. Rockhurst looked good against a depleted Blue Springs South team. But the Hawklets' best player Sal Belfonte is still nursing a hamstring tweak and really how can you get the most out of your other top player, Illinois recruit DB Dexter McDonald against the run-happy SaltHawks? Gonna be a loooooong ride back home for Rockhurst. Winner: Hutchinson

Kearney at Fort Osage. I believe in Fort O even after Dalton Krysa. The team showed a flair of the aerials last week so I like where they're headed. Winner: Fort Osage

Lee's Summit at Park Hill South. This Friday, the Tigers will match their entire win total from last year. Could get out of hand early if PHS comes with another defensive effort they put up in week 1. Winner: Lee's Summit

Truman at Lee's Summit West. The final score might've looked lopsided last week but the Patriots were tied with Ray-Pec 7-7 at halftime. Truman's better than you think and LS West is rebuilding. Winner: Truman

O'Hara at Oak Grove. O'Hara coughed up the game last year against Oak Grove but I doubt that even the home advantage from the Panther faithful will stop O'Hara from handling bizness this year. Winner: O'Hara

Westport at Northeast. Gotta give the IL some love sometimes. Last year, I attended this game for the Dan Stanley feature I wrote. He's doing Saint's work in trying to build up that Westport program and against equal opponents, his Tigers compete. Winner: Westport

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