Autumn has not arrived yet, but a sure sign that it is near played out at high schools all over the state Monday.

The first official practice date for fall sports allowed teams and individuals to commence a journey that will, for some, take them from the heat of August to the chill of November.

In the Butler Eagle's coverage area, fall sports include football, soccer, cross country, golf, girls volleyball and girls tennis. All have given me memorable games, performances and interviews in my previous 17 fall seasons here.

It would take me an entire sports section to list them all, but here are a few:

In the fall of 2002, I had been at the Eagle for just half a year. My first interaction with Mars football coach Scott Heinauer was at Mars' photo day in mid-August. I was assigned to get a story on him being our longest-tenured varsity football coach. He was entering his 11th season at that point. He's now working on season 28, which reminds me just how fast time flies.

After treading water in the first six games that season, Mars caught fire in October. Fueled by state track champion and running back Brad Mueller, who gained 1,000 yards in the final three regular season games alone, the Planets made a run to the WPIAL championship game. Their season ended there with a loss to Seton-LaSalle at Heinz Field, but that team still sticks out in my mind.

I covered the district quarterfinal win over Jeannette (10-7) and the semifinal victory against Beaver (34-13) and remember how that run energized the student body.

It was quite an introduction to Butler County football for me.

A decade later, Forrest Barnes was running wild for Seneca Valley's football team. He had many big games during his three seasons on varsity, but none bigger than a home game against Connellsville in September 2012.

A senior that year, Barnes set school records by rushing for 306 yards and seven touchdowns on just 16 carries against the Falcons. He had amassed 278 yards by halftime.

I remember thinking that while Barnes was running at full-speed, Connellsville's defenders appeared to be moving in slow motion. The Falcons were simply ill-equipped to stop a back of Barnes' ability. It is, to this day, the most dominant performance by a high school football player I have had the opportunity to cover.

Butler County has multiple soccer programs that have excelled at the district level for some time, including the boys and girls teams at Seneca Valley, Mars and Karns City.

Several teams have reached the state championship game this century. Only one, Mars' girls in 2011, came away with a PIAA title.

A first-half goal by Crysta Ganter was all the scoring Mars would need in a 1-0 win over Villa Joseph Marie in the state championship game in Hershey.

The Planets finished that season 25-0-1. The only game they did not win was a 2-2 tie against Knoch in late September.

Midfielder Mani Brueckner led the way with 36 goals and 42 assists, but that team had multiple scoring threats, a strong defense and solid play from a sophomore goalkeeper in Sarah Dailey.

The talent Mars had in all areas of the field is best represented by its 193-8 cumulative scoring advantage. That's not a misprint ... 193-8.

Good luck to all teams in the Butler County area this fall. The high-caliber of coaches and athletes should only add to the long list of accomplishments this year.

Derek Pyda is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle