The preparation for the start of the 2024 season continues this week with scrimmages.
Glenbrook travels to Shreveport Thursday to take on Green Oaks and Lakeview at Northwood’s Jerry Burton Memorial Stadium at 6 p.m.
The parish’s other three teams have scrimmages Friday.
Minden host Benton at 7, North Webster visits Magnolia, Ark., at 6 and Lakeside is at Cedar Creek at 6.
Scrimmages usually feature a set of plays by the first- and second teams or JV — and sometimes freshmen — followed by a live 12-minute quarter.
Formats vary, though. Sets of plays can be a specific number or time frame. Some have a goal-line segment.
Regardless, it’s a welcome chance for players to go up against someone besides their teammates.
Coaches get a chance to see how newcomers are mixing in with veterans. Scrimmages also provide video for evaluating performance.
For new Lakeside head coach John Ware and North Webster head coach Christopher Wilson and Glenbrook second-year head coach Reagan Smith, it will be the first time to see their teams in game-type situations. Their teams did not have spring scrimmages.
Of course, players who are battling injuries of any nature are usually kept out of scrimmages so some teams may not be at full strength.
As always, coaches and officials will be keeping a close watch on players because of the heat. Teams have gotten a bit of a break this week with high temperatures moderating from near 100 or more to the low to mid-90s plus low humidity levels.
Minden and Benton were District 1-4A rivals before the Tigers moved up to District 1-5A in 2020.
The Benton defense should provide a good test for the Tide offense with two first-team and one second-team All-District players returning.
The Tigers offense features sophomore quarterback Malachi Zeigler and 6-foot-7’lineman Witt Van Hoy, a TCU commit.
Benton is coming off a 5-6 season. The Tigers won four of their last five regular-season games.
Minden went 3-8 last year. The Tide have a good mix of veterans and newcomers led by quarterback Hudson Brown, running back Dunovan Robinson, offensive lineman Jonathan Bradford and defensive lineman Demetrius Robinson.
Glenbrook’s opponent Green Oaks, a member of District 1-2A, is coming off a 3-7 season.
Glenbrook went 8-3 last season in Reagan Smith’s first season as head coach. Quarterback Easton Sanders returns but the Apaches lost several key players off last year’s team.
North Webster’s opponent Magnolia is coming off a 5-5 season. Like North Webster, the Panthers have a new head coach, former Captain Shreve head coach Adam Kirby. Kirby led the Gators to the District 1-5A championship last season.
North Webster has a solid group of returning starters off last season’s 7-5 team led by All-District 1-3A running back Braedon Robertson.
Lakeside’s opponent Cedar Creek, a member of District 1-1A, is coming off a 4-7 season.
Lakeside went 3-7 last season as injuries took their toll in the last six games. The Warriors have an experienced quarterback in Brock Case. Eli Santilices, a receiver and defensive back, is also back.
After the scrimmages, the next step in the preseason process are the jamborees. Minden, North Webster and Lakeside are competing in the Pineland Jamboree at The Pit Aug. 30. Glenbrook is hosting a jamboree the same night.