There’s just something about small towns — the restaurants, the service organizations, the parks and the churches.

Oh yeah, and the sports.

Local high school sports have kicked off, and the football season begins tonight.

Austin High plays at Red Wing at 7 p.m., while Lyle-Pacelli takes on host Glenville-Emmons at the same time.

Athletics are a big part of small towns, primarily because everyone pretty much knows everyone else.

You may have a teen who plays volleyball, or a neighbor who runs cross country, or work with someone whose son is the goalie on the soccer team.

Sports are hard work, and the students have a tough job in balancing academics and athletics.

With that said, it means the world to many of them when people show up at their games and cheer them on.

That’s where all of us come in.

We encourage our readers to attend as many local sporting events as possible because doing so not only supports the teams and the players, but it also builds a sense of pride within our communities.

“I think kids always notice when there are fans in the stands,” said Jim Parlin, the new athletic director for Lyle-Pacelli. “It makes them feel like what they’re doing is important, and it gives them a little more drive to perform at a higher level.”

These are our teams, and our attendance goes a long way in showing our athletes that we are proud of them.