Love for a sport or the desire to support friends and family are two of the more significant reasons fans pack the stands for local athletic events. It makes for an electric setting at a Friday night football game or weekday evening soccer game.

These atmospheres around Beaufort County will only continue to get more exciting. It works on the road, too. The Northside faithful that followed the Lady Panthers to Princeton and Louisburg for the first two rounds of the 1-A state volleyball playoffs gave them a familiar feeling of support each time they scored.

Soccer playoffs are right around the corner. Washington and Southside both have strong squads that could make some noise in the postseason. Football is in the final weeks of its season, as well.

Then, before anyone knows it, the winter season will be here. With it comes North Carolina’s pastime: basketball.

There’s something for everyone who even remotely likes sports. Allegiances take priority at the high-school level, but football fans have their own styles they can choose from. Purists may find Northside’s tough, “three yards and a cloud of dust” style the most entertaining. Others may find the explosiveness of Washington’s triple option to be more fun to watch.

And that’s just football.

But spending a Friday night watching a local football game or a Wednesday evening taking in playoff soccer is about more than simply watching a game. It’s also getting out in the community and supporting athletes who have put in plenty of work one will never see.

This isn’t limited to high school athletics. Chocowinity and Belhaven’s 10U teams had arguably the best youth football game of the season this past weekend.

Athletics in Beaufort County offer games on almost a nightly basis. Just about anyone can find something up his alley at least once a week. It’s a good way to get out for a night and to support the community.