Whether it's called a jamboree or just a scrimmage, those preseason get-togethers when the final score is not important can be beneficial to high school footballs teams.
“It gets you prepared for the first game,” said Carroll Academy Coach Bo Milton. His team will have a scrimmage with Winston Academy Aug. 9 and will participate in a jamboree with six other schools at Tri-County Academy on Aug. 15.
The scrimmage is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Carroll Academy, “It probably will be very controlled, almost like practice,” Milton said.
At the jamboree, the Rebels will play Newton County Academy at 3:30 p.m. and Central Hinds at 5 p.m. “The jamboree will be game situations with everything but kickoffs and punts,” Milton said. “You’re finally going to hit someone besides your own team. It really feels more like a game situation. It gets you prepared for that first game.”
Carroll Academy opens the season Aug. 23 with a home game against Kirk. The Rebels return seven starters on each side of the ball from last year’s 7-4 team.
“We are the most experienced team we have had since I have been here,” said Milton as he enters his fifth year as coach.
Depth is a concern due to a small roster size. The Rebels have worked hard on conditioning during the summer with a goal of minimizing injuries.
“We try to limit the things we do in practice so we don’t get hurt. We probably don’t hit a much as a team that has 40 or 50 kids.”
Winona has a jamboree with Senatobia Aug. 16 at Oxford High School. “It’s mainly to get game experience,” said Coach Joey Tompkins. “There’s nothing like game experience.
“You try to emulate game speed in practice. A lot of times that doesn’t work. Any time you go up against someone other than your own people, I believe it helps you out. You want to get into game shape and that’s one way to do it.”
Coming off a 13-1 season, the Tigers open with a home game against Eupora Aug. 23.
Winona Christian has a jamboree at Ethel Aug. 16.
Winona Christian Coach Junior Graham said it's 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 (the jamboree) 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 August 23.
J.Z. George does not have a jamboree or scrimmage scheduled prior to the season opener against McAdams at home Aug. 23.
