It feels odd, doesn’t it? This is the first time since 2012 that Beaufort County’s football season hasn’t lasted until December.

Southside made it as far as the 1-A regional championship in 2015 and 2016. Washington, of course, played for a state championship in 2014 and made it to the semifinal the year before.

No coach in the area will have to be preoccupied with game planning on Thanksgiving. No one will have to worry about scheduling long bus rides or procuring an inordinate amount of hand warmers for a freezing-cold, early-December game.

Unfortunately, almost every one involved would rather be worrying about all of those factors and more. Coaches likely want to be watching game tape while feasting on leftover turkey. Parents want to be helping to organize pregame meals. They want to be on the road each Friday to cheer on their sons.

But that is all over with a few weeks earlier than anyone in Beaufort County has grown accustomed to. Now the focus shifts to winter sports: basketball, wrestling and swimming.

The Seahawks, unlike the last few years, don’t have to wait until mid-December to get the hoops season rolling. Their football players are available a bit earlier than usual and can get to work building chemistry as a basketball team.

So, where does this leave local football fanatics other than to mourn a season gone too early? It leaves them hopefully looking forward to what should be a stellar season come 2018.

Southside, Northside and Washington all lose talented senior classes. A total of 54 players across the three teams have wrapped up their high school careers. Southside (21) lost the most of the three squads.

Each also has building blocks for success come next season. For the Seahawks, they look forward to returning quarterback Will Warren. He’ll have the likes of Hayden Mayo and Jonquil Haywood around him in the backfield. Jamari Nelson, a sophomore this season, also showed plenty of upside.

The Panthers lose a lot across the board, but should be excited to have Johnathan Clark for another year. In the trenches, Northside played a handful of younger players on the offensive and defensive lines. The experience and another offseason in the weight room should be something to watch next August.

Washington made strides in its first season under coach Jon Blank. Pam Pack fans should be salivating over what the team can be capable of in another year. Yes, Washington loses tons of talent in quarterback Frederick Holscher, all-conference running back Hykeem Ruffin, Nazzir Hardy, as well as a dozen others.

Even so, there are 20 juniors set to return next season. That group includes impressive skill players like Tyshawn Roberson and Ka’ci Foreman. There are also hard-nosed linebackers like Michael Clark and Uriah Lawrence.

Let the football season digest. Remember the collection of entertaining games that took place in 2017. Congratulate the seniors on a good season.

Then get out to see some basketball. This winter should be fun.