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  • Santa Margarita coach Rick Curtis, left, speaks with receive Kyle...

    Santa Margarita coach Rick Curtis, left, speaks with receive Kyle Sweet during the team's first official practice of the season Friday.

  • Santa Margarita quarterback KJ Costello prepares to throw a pass...

    Santa Margarita quarterback KJ Costello prepares to throw a pass during Friday's practice.

  • Santa Margarita's Cameron Platt, left, and Austin Maihen take part...

    Santa Margarita's Cameron Platt, left, and Austin Maihen take part in a pass blocking drill Friday.

  • Santa Margarita's Stash Rowley, left, and Grant Jaffe participate in...

    Santa Margarita's Stash Rowley, left, and Grant Jaffe participate in run-blocking drills.

  • Santa Margarita's Cameron Platt participates in footwork drills during Friday's...

    Santa Margarita's Cameron Platt participates in footwork drills during Friday's practice at Santa Margarita High.

  • Santa Margarita quarterback KJ Costello prepares to throw a pass...

    Santa Margarita quarterback KJ Costello prepares to throw a pass during Friday's practice at Santa Margarita.

  • Santa Margarita receiver Kyle Sweet catches a pass during the...

    Santa Margarita receiver Kyle Sweet catches a pass during the team's first official practice Friday on the school's campus.

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Associate mug of Kenny Connolly, Anaheim reporter.

Date shot: 12/31/2012 . Photo by KATE LUCAS /  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

For anyone in the general vicinity of Santa Margarita on Friday afternoon, the excitement was apparent.

With football players reporting for the start of practice, the school’s campus and surrounding neighborhood were filled with the Eagles’ shouts and roars, a strong hint of what will soon be happening throughout Orange County.

Roughly eight months after Santa Margarita concluded its 2013 campaign — going 4-6 overall — and saw head coach Harry Welch retire, the Eagles stepped back onto their practice field under the direction of Rick Curtis, the former Northwood coach.

“It’s been great,” Curtis explained of the transition that has taken place at the school. “The players have really embraced me and the staff.”

The Eagles are preparing for a schedule that ranks among the most challenging in the nation. Their 10-game schedule, which starts with them facing Bishop Amat of La Puente on Aug.29, includes meetings against four teams in USA Today’s national preseason top25, including No.1 Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas and No.2 St. John Bosco.

“We have the toughest schedule in the nation, but if we worry about that, it’ll only make it tougher on us,” Curtis added. “We just have to focus in on Bishop Amat right now.”

While most Orange County schools won’t begin practices for another week or so, Buena Park was also back on the field this week, trying to build off its 8-3 showing a year ago.

“We’re excited about where we’re at right now,” Coyotes coach Anthony White said. “We get to throw on the pads on Monday, so we’re counting down the days until kickoff.”