SANFORD – As the calendar turns to August, there are some things that are inevitable. The school year is about to begin, temperatures are about to get cooler and football season is starting. Lee County High School held its first official practice of the season Monday.

“At this point of the year, everyone is really excited. I think everybody is having fun,” said head football coach Steve Burdeau. He enters his sixth season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets.

“I’m real excited. Big goals. The last two years we’ve fallen short in conference, but hopefully we can win conference this year,” said senior linebacker/running back Ayo Adesanya.

Coming off a season in which the team went 8-4 with a second round playoff exit, the Jackets have been chomping at the bit to get out on the field.

Senior defensive lineman Prince Lamison saw his junior season get cut short after suffering a torn MCL, but now fully healthy, he admitted he’s ready to hit somebody.

“I was injured last year, put me out for a few months, but I’m back and ready to go again,” Lamison said. “I’m back and I’m better.”

The senior class has labeled this year a revenge tour. After early exits in the state tournament each year of their high school career, Lamison says the team is focused on bigger goals this year.

“During the playoffs, I was down, but that was six months ago,” he said. “Good technique is how you win games, especially to get to a state championship.”

As the season is just starting, Burdeau is preaching for the team to take everything a day at a time.

“If you don’t shoot for that goal, you’re never going to get there. But you’ve got to take everything day-by-day, worry about what’s happening right now. Our goal is to get better every day.”

“Win all the non-conference games, conference games and then when we get to the playoffs, worry about the right now,” Adesanya said. “Everything else will take care of itself.”

The Yellow Jackets open the season August 18 at home against Northern Durham.