11:19 a.m.

Whoa, it’s heating up. In between drills, players are chugging as much water as possible.

M-P has a pretty challenging start to the season. Its first three games are at Shorecrest, at Snohomish and home against Skyview of Vancouver, which has a strong program.

OK, I’m going to get some lunch and then head to Mill Creek to check out Jackson’s first practice.

*****

10:55 a.m.

Big news for M-P players, coaches and fans: The Marysville school board on Monday approved funding to install a new artificial turf field at Quil Ceda Stadium, Marysville School District athletic director Greg Erickson said.

The long-awaited turf could be ready by fall 2010. This school year M-P will still use its grass field, which gets incredibly messy and torn up during football and soccer competition.

Erickson is watching M-P’s football practice like a hawk. He is looking for players who do not have red wrist bands, which means their eligibility is in question. Erickson wants to make sure every kid has an up-to-date physical exam and is academically eligible.

*****

10:40 a.m.

Now I’m in Marysville, checking in on the M-P Tomahawks, who are coming off one of the best seasons in school history.

M-P players are pretty fired up this morning. At the end of a group stretching session, many of the guys started yelling and screaming as they sprinted in various directions to start drills.

Returning for M-P is running back Austin Denton, a powerful yet quick running back who led the area in rushing last season as a junior.