The Brighton Bulldog football season officially began Monday as players and coaching staff prepare for the upcoming season with two-a-day practices throughout the week.

Brighton Head Football Coach Cliff Kiefer said his team is young this year, in terms of game experience. There are only three starters returning from last year as seniors.

"Every year you lose kids - every program does," Kiefer said. "We have a good nucleus of young players - we're just not tested yet. We're not up to game speed by any means because they haven't been out there. We're inexperienced in that way and we have to grow up quickly. That's why these two-a-days are vital for us to bring us up to game speed as quickly as possible."

After losing during the first round of playoff games last season, Kiefer said the team needs to work most on finishing this year.

"We need to work on finishing what we start," he said. "I think the young men are hungry and ready to finish."

Kiefer said that Brighton's division is tough and to top it off, the team will play outside of its conference this year.

"We have a heck of a schedule this year, but we welcome the challenge," he said.

Brighton High School's first game is at 7 p.m. Aug. 23 at Novi High School.