Whether it is called a jamboree or just a scrimmage, those preseason get-togethers when the final score is not important can be beneficial to high school football teams.
“It kind of gives us a starting point,” said Ethel head coach Dave McCrory. “It gives us one final test going into the season.”
Central Holmes will host Bayou Academy and Canton Academy on Aug. 8, while Ethel hosts Winona Christian on Aug. 16. McAdams will play Leake County Aug. 17 at Mississippi Memorial Stadium in Jackson,
McCrory said he and Winona Christian coach Junior Graham have not worked out all the details. “We're probably going to play two quarters of football, minus the special teams,” McCrory said, adding that the scrimmage will give his team a starting point prior to the Aug. 23 opener at home against West Lowndes.
Graham said it is difficult for his team to have a full scrimmage in practice because of the size of his team. “We have a lot of young players not physically capable of providing the type of resistance we will see on Fridays.”
He added “We have several new faces on offense and defense. This is going to allow them the opportunity to get some game experience under their belts and gives us (coaches) an opportunity to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. And maybe give us a chance to get a little chemistry on both sides of the ball before our first contest.”
Winona Christian opens the season at French Camp Aug. 23.
Central Holmes coach Jim Crowder said the competition with Bayou and Canton Academy will be informal. “It won't be your typical jamboree. We're not going to put the clock on it.”
Central Holmes opens Aug. 16, a week before most teams, with a home game against Park Place Christian. “We hope to iron out the kinks, to try to get people in game situations,” Crowder said.
McAdams coach Kenneth Nelson sees the benefit of playing at a large stadium. “It will help us get ready for the first official game the next week.”
It will be a two quarter game at 1 p.m. McAdams opens at J.Z. George August 23.
After a year as an assistant at Leake Central, Nelson returns to McAdams, where he was head coach from 2012 to 2014. He was also a head coach at Holmes County Central in 2016 and 2017.
Kosciusko had a scrimmage scheduled with Cleveland Central, but Cleveland Central backed out this month after a coaching change. Kosciusko coach Kelly Causey is hoping to find a last minute substitute.
If no scrimmage can be scheduled, Causey said there is a concern “because so many other teams do it. But to be honest I think it’s too early to put kids in full pads.
“It has its benefits. I hope we can get something done. But if not. it’s not going to be the end of the world.”
The Whippets open the season Thursday, Aug. 22 with a home game against Yazoo County.
French Camp will not have a scrimmage prior to the season opener with Winona Christian.
“I’ve done it in the past, but it has been a while,” said coach Nathan Wright, who noted the pros and cons.
“When you have a lot of kids who have not had a lot of experience, they can get a little experience before they are thrown out there, so that is nice. On the con side, you are probably not quite ready to play. And of course there is always the injury bug. My philosophy is if a kid is going to get hurt, I don’t want him to get hurt in a scrimmage.”
