Two jamborees involving parish schools are set for Friday night.
The annual Pineland Jamboree is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at Haynesville’s Red Franklin Memorial Stadium.
Lakeside faces Homer in the opener followed by Minden vs. Lakeside, Homer vs. North Webster, Minden vs. Haynesville and Haynesville vs. North Webster.
The b1 Bank Glenbrook Jamboree at Apaches Stadium is also scheduled to start at 6. Glenbrook is playing Loyola and Montgomery.
While the score will be kept, winning isn’t necessarily the most important thing. Coaches will be looking for improvement following last week’s scrimmages.
Players, especially new starters, will get a chance to get a feel for actual game situations before next week’s season openers. Fans will get a preview of their teams.
Host Haynesville is the defending non-select Division IV state champion. The Golden Tornado went 14-0 last season.
Star quarterback and defensive back Isaiah Washington is now at LSU. The Tors lost some other key players to graduation but several return. Among those are running back/linebacker Donnie Critton, offensive linemen Jeremiah Evans and Drake Goodwin, flanker/wingback/linebacker Ethan Henderson, defensive back/return specialist L’Travious Brooks and defensive back Moise Critton.
Lakeside is coming off a 4-6 season. The Warriors started strong but faded down the stretch as injuries took their toll. Levi Bogdan has taken the reins at quarterback.
Minden went 5-6 last season. The Tide have a new starter at quarterback, Kaiden King.
Homer, 6-6 last season, fell to Haynesville 36-19 in the second round of the playoffs.
North Webster defeated Homer 31-0 in the regular season last year but the teams aren’t playing each other this season.
The Knights are coming off a 4-7 season in Christopher Wilson’s second year as head coach. Junior Justin Stewart returns at quarterback.
North Webster looks to have another strong defense led by Jeremiah Washington.