Clear Springs will travel to Sam Vitanza Stadium on Friday, Sept. 25, for a 7 p.m. UIL district kickoff that doubles as Dickinson's homecoming game. For the Gators' youngest players, preparation for this matchup started months ago.

Dickinson's 7th- through 9th-grade football players completed a four-day summer camp July 27–30 at Sam Vitanza Stadium, running drills, conditioning, and competitive team periods each evening from 5 to 7:30 p.m. According to Dickinson ISD, the non-contact camp emphasized leadership and team concepts alongside on-field skill work. The district said student-athletes focused on building team chemistry and strengthening habits that carry directly into district play. At $50 per player, the camp drew incoming 7th, 8th, and 9th graders absorbing the program's culture before the school year opens in late August.

That pipeline feeds a varsity squad already showing cohesion at the top. Lorenzo Aguirre and Michael Pugh Jr. were named two of the program's four captains after Team Blue topped Team White in the Gators' spring game in May, the district announced on X. The other two captains have not been publicly identified.

The Sept. 25 contest is confirmed on Clear Springs' published schedule as a district game. For Clear Springs, the trip to Dickinson means facing a program that put its future starters through structured preparation well before the first whistle of the regular season.

Before the homecoming matchup, Dickinson hosts its annual Meet the Gators night Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 6:45 p.m. at Sam Vitanza Stadium. A homecoming parade is set for Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 5:30 p.m. in Dickinson. New season tickets went on sale Saturday, Aug. 1, through GoFan; existing holders could renew starting July 1.

Kickoff for the homecoming district clash is 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, in Dickinson.