we'll spell it out for you

Announcers. And timekeepers, spotters, scoreboard operators, ticket-takers, concession-stand workers and groundskeepers. The unheralded, but not unappreciated, stadium staffers who make game nights possible.

Big Cat, the traveling trophy that goes to the winner of the annual game between Lake-ville North and South. The last time South took home the trophy was 2009. Will the streak end this year?

Candy, which rains down on the Totino-Grace bleachers, courtesy of fans who throw handfuls whenever the Eagles score.

Dave Nelson, the Hall of Fame Minnetonka coach who hails from one of Minnesota's great football families. A true ambassador for the high school game and as gracious as they come.

Ettinger Field. The venerable home of the South St. Paul Packers sits staunch and sturdy, with a rugged, old-school character befitting the surrounding neighborhood. A treasure.

Friday nights, when communities come together — old-timers, parents, fellow students and thrilled youngsters — around the local team. You don't even have to like football to appreciate fall Fridays.

Grant, as in Mike, the shrewdest mind in prep football. He calls plays from the sidelines without the benefit of a chart or a headset and has a recall that makes an elephant seem forgetful.

Iowa State, which has landed three of the highest-rated players in the state: Aidan Bouman (Buffalo), Craig McDonald (SMB) and Hunter Zenzen (Barnesville).

J is for Jalen, the first name of two of the top players in the metro (Suggs and Travis). Or perhaps Justice, as in Sullivan; Jaice, as in Miller; and Jordan, as in Titus. All preseason Dream Team selections.

Kaden Johnson, the SMB linebacker and only four-star recruit in the Class of 2020. While Suggs supplies the legs and the arm to make the Wolfpack go, it's Johnson — not yet committed to a college — who provides the guts.

Lundeen, Dwight, who is entering his 50th season as the only head football coach in Becker history. He has won three state championships and is third in career victories with 359.

Mascots. Had your fill of teams named after large cats or birds of prey? Then show a little love for the Awesome Blossoms (Blooming Prairie), Dragons (Litchfield, Pine City), Mainstreeters (Sauk Centre), Spuds (Moorhead) and Zephyrs (Mahtomedi).

Outstate Minnesota. Whether you're talking about Nine-Man programs doing their small towns proud to powerful programs such as Caledonia, Owatonna and Pierz, greater Minnesota teams know the Friday night lights shine plenty bright beyond the metro area.

Play clock. A 40-second play clock rolls out this season, mandated by the National Federation of High School Associations. The desired effect: Faster pace of play and fewer complaints about teams receiving added time. The clock starts when a play ends, not after the ball is spotted.

QRF. Last season the Quality Results Formula was used to seed the postseason for all but one section of football from Nine-Man to Class 5A. The algorithm ranks teams according to non-subjective factors such as victories and losses, opponents' victories and class differential.

Rallying for improbable victories. In 2017, Maple Grove erupted for three touchdowns in the final 59 seconds for a 29-27 comeback against St. Michael-Albertville. The stunned Knights changed their fortunes last season, scoring 29 unanswered points in the final seven minutes to shock Edina.

South. History will be made Thursday at Minneapolis South as Tigers players and fans will enjoy the first home game under the lights in school history. A fundraising campaign provided turf and lights.

U.S. Bank Stadium. Home of the football state tournament semifinals and Prep Bowl. By the way, instant replay, which Minnesota started as an experiment at the 2017 Prep Bowl, is now the national standard.

Verndale, where Mike Mahlen is seven victories shy of becoming the first Minnesota football coach to win 400 career games. The Pirates, a Nine-Man program, have won at least seven games for the past seven consecutive seasons.

Wide receivers. With growing use of spread offenses and football coaches striving to attract more athletes from sports such as basketball, Minnesota's next Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd or Adam Thielen might not be far away.

Xylophones. Hey, we needed an X word. But seriously, bands play them at halftime. None better than the Rosemount marching band.

Youngsters. Both the kids in football jerseys who are into the game and the junior high kids usually just there to see and be seen.