Whether you know me or you have just been following my “countdown to kickoff” you know that I love high school football. There is nothing like a fall Friday night in small town America.
In Missouri, that countdown is down to SEVEN days. Only one week to go. Well, that means it is Jamboree night. If you are not familiar with the way things are done in Missouri a Football Jamboree is pretty much a Four way scrimmage. Four teams come together at one site to play one another. Each team will get twelve plays on offense and twelve plays on defense against each team, then rotate to the next.
When you have been hitting only your teammates for a couple of weeks, its a nice change of pace to get to line up and smack someone else in the mouth. Things are a little different than they were in the early days of this format. With full-contact team camps in the late summer, most teams have had a least a little chance to see their troops against opposition. And some say that has made the Jamboree’s a little less important.
I actually disagree. For me, its one last chance to see where the guys are really at, a week before it counts. It’s a chance for coaches to get one last chance to evaluate at game speed. It’s a chance for players trying to make an impression to step up and make that impression. It’s a chance to see, at this point, who is really ready to play under the Friday Night Lights.
Tri-Lakes area folks will have a couple of places to choose from to see football tonight without having to travel far.
Hollister is hosting a Jamboree that includes the Tigers, as well as Springfield Catholic, Diamond, and Ava.
I will get a chance to see Branson as well as my Reeds Spring Wolves. The Pirates are hosting this year. The Jamboree includes Kickapoo and Aurora in addition to the local schools.
Play at both schools is set to start at 7. So, gather up the family and head out to the stadium of your choice for a nice preview.
Folks, its just about here… ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?