ORANGE — Local high school football teams will try to beat the elements Monday, Aug. 6 for the first day of practice.

Over at Little Cypress-Mauriceville, the Bears will look to improve upon a 4-6 season last year under the direction of Randy Crouch.

LC-M 10th through 12th graders will need to be at the LC-M Fieldhouse by 5:30 a.m. Monday morning while incoming ninth graders will need to report at 9 a.m.

The Bears will look to hit the practice field for the first time by 7:30 a.m. The ninth graders will go through their orientation and will practice for the first time Tuesday.

LC-M will play host to Goose Creek Memorial in its first scrimmage Aug. 17 with the freshmen starting at 5 p.m. followed by the junior varsity (6 p.m.) and varsity (7 p.m.). The Bears will travel to Sour Lake Aug. 24 for a tri-scrimmage with Hardin-Jefferson and Beaumont Kelly. The scrimmage will likely be in the morning as the teams are still working out details.

There will be a Meet the Bears Night Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. at Battlin’ Bear Stadium.

The Bears will kickoff their 2012 campaign Aug. 31 on the road at West Orange-Stark.

The Vidor Pirates will look to pick up where they left off last year behind long-time head coach Jeff Mathews.

The Pirates went three rounds deep in the postseason to finish 10-3 overall. The Pirates defeated Crosby and Montgomery in the playoffs as the school earned its first playoff victory since 1964.

Vidor will host Orangefield in a scrimmage Aug. 17 with the freshmen starting at 4 p.m. followed by the JV (5 p.m.) and the varsity (6 p.m.). Vidor will visit West Orange-Stark in their second scrimmage Aug. 23 with the freshmen starting at 5 p.m. followed by the JV (6 p.m.) and the varsity (7 p.m.).

The Pirates open up their season at home Aug. 31 against Santa Fe.

The West Orange-Stark Mustangs will look to continue their momentum under coach Cornel Thompson.

The Mustangs went 10-4 last year, winning yet another District 21-3A title and advancing all the way to the Class 3A Region III Division II Finals.

All Mustangs ninth through 12th grade must report to Mustang Stadium at 8 a.m. Monday. After a brief orientation, the Mustangs will start working out and will be done around noon on the first day.

WO-S will have scrimmages against Nederland and Vidor.

The Mustangs will travel to Nederland Aug. 17 with the freshmen starting at 5 p.m. followed by the junior varsity (6 p.m.) and the varsity (7 p.m.). The Mustangs will host Vidor Aug. 23 with the freshmen starting at 5 p.m. followed by the junior varsity (6 p.m.) and varsity (7 p.m.).

WO-S is also planning a Midnight Madness practice Aug. 11 at 12:01 a.m.

WO-S will open its campaign Aug. 31 at home against LC-M.

The Bridge City Cardinals will be seeking their fourth straight playoff appearance under the guidance of Coach Cris Stump. The Cardinals went a solid 8-3 last season, finishing second in District 21-3A.

On Monday, Cardinals entering 10th through 12th grade will have practice from 7:45 a.m.-9:15 a.m. and from 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Ninth graders will practice from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.

Bridge City will scrimmage Lumberton and Woodville. The Cardinals host Lumberton Aug. 17. They will visit Woodville Aug. 23 with the times yet to be determined.

The Cardinals will start their regular season Aug. 31 with a road trip to Newton.

The Orangefield Bobcats will be eager to hit the practice field for first-year head coach Josh Smalley. Smalley, who was the offensive coordinator at Bridge City, takes over the Bobcat program from Brian Huckabay, who led the Bobcats to a 5-5 mark in 2011.

All Bobcat players should report to the fieldhouse at 7 a.m. to get equipment with practice starting at 8 a.m. The varsity and JV teams will practice to noon while the freshmen will go to about 10:30 a.m. On Aug. 7-9 practice will be from 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

The Bobcats will have their first scrimmage at Vidor Aug. 17 with the freshmen starting at 4 p.m. followed by the JV (5 p.m.) and varsity (6 p.m.). Orangefield will visit Hardin Aug. 24 for its second scrimmage with times still to be determined.

Meet the Bobcats Night will be held Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the new high school gym.

The Bobcats will open their 2012 season on the road Aug. 31 in Winnie against East Chambers.