The 2017 High School football season officially opens on Monday. Practice can officially get underway on Monday morning for teams throughout the state of Illinois. The Vandals will open their season bright and early on Monday morning with their first official practice of the season. High School football season opens with their first game on August 25th. The Vandals, who are coming off winning 8 games a year ago and a share of the South Central Conference championship, will open the season at Gillespie.