With football season a few days away, it's time to take a peek at the upcoming schedule for the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference this fall.

First glance at the schedule shows just how much disparity there is between the two divisions, as all of the former Lehigh Valley Conference schools from last year, except Bethlehem Catholic, will keep a healthy schedule in tact, despite their 10-game regular season being closed within the conference.

Becahi gets hit the worse of any school, primarily because of their move to the north, joining former Mountain Valley Conference schools, as well as Dieruff and Allen.

The Hawks open the season against Liberty on August 29, as each team in the conference will play two crossover contests, but the Hawks really won't have another date circled until they play Central Catholic on October 31 in the regular season finale. In between that, Becahi is forced to play a seriously watered down schedule, which will certainly hurt them more at the gate for their home games. It's one of the major disadvantages Becahi has to deal with, as Lehigh Valley fans won't be flocking to come see teams like East Stroudsburg North.

The Becahi-Liberty showdown in week one is the only game worth seeing that week, the Hawks are one of the very few schools from the other division that have a chance to win.

Parkland opened up last year against Delaware Valley. This year, they travel to Dieruff.

While week two features Emmaus taking a road trip to Easton, you have to wait until the middle of the season in week five to really get a prime-time encounter, as Parkland visits Whitehall on September 26.

Week six brings some intriguing matchups again, as Liberty visits Parkland and Whitehall travels to Easton. The middle of the schedule appears to be where many Lehigh Valley teams will be tested, as Easton and Parkland square off on October 10 for a week seven showdown. Saturday's Emmaus-Central contest could highlight the week as well.

In week eight, Liberty visits Easton and Becahi could see a test against Stroudsburg at home on Saturday, October 18.

Week nine may be the most competitive week of them all, as Emmaus travels to Whitehall, Freedom takes on Easton, Central and Liberty square off and East Stroudsburg South and Dieruff provide some flare.

The final week of the regular season will pit all the rivals together as the list goes: October 31-Becahi @ Central; E.S. North @ E.S. South; Stroudsburg @ Pleasant Valley; P.M. East @ P.M. West; Easton @ Nazareth; Parkland @ Emmaus. November 1-Liberty @ Freedom; Dieruff @ Allen and Whitehall @ Northampton.