Area high school teams prepare for jamboree games
Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 23, 2003
Some area football coaches will have the luxury of seeing a firstnhand view of what to expect from their team during jamboree games this week.
Georgiana High School will host a fournquarter, fullncontact jamboree against Bullock County out of Union Springs on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Panthers' head coach Keith York said that he jumped on the opportunity to play in a full spring and fall jamborees when the Alabama High School Athletic Association agreed this year to allow teams to play in both.
"In the past you could only participate in one or the other," York said. "Basically financially, with region play and traveling the distances we have to travel, we wanted to host a game that would help us financially and raise money for athletics."
York believes playing in the jamboree will give his coaching staff a chance to look at some positions that would otherwise have to be looked at during the first game of the season. He also said his team plans to play all out in the jamboree.
"We're looking at it like it's the first game of the season. Instead of playing 10 games, we're playing 11 this season."
Fort Dale Academy will travel to Faith Academy on Friday night to play in a fournteam jamboree. The Eagles and Clark Clarke Prep will team up against Faith and Monroe. Each team will play offense two quarters and defense two quarters, but will alternate each quarter.
"I like having a jamboree, but I don't like playing one of these tag team game," FDA head coach James "Speed" Sampley said.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Greenville High School will play a 90nplay controlled scrimmage Friday evening at Tiger Stadium at 6:30.
"I wanted to play a jamboree," GHS head coach Alvin Briggs said. "I just didn't want to take a chance of getting someone hurt."
The scrimmage is open to the public at no charge.
McKenzie High School will not play in a jamboree before the season kicks off on Aug. 29. Firstnyear head coach Scott Curd wants to keep his future opponents guessing and doesn't want to risk getting a player hurt.
"I don't like jamborees in the fall," Curd said. "I don't like giving people a sneak preview. Numbers is a big thing for us. Even if we had enough numbers I feel like I could get something more out of a practice."
The Tigers currently have 16 players on its roster.