The official kickoff to the 2024 season isn’t until next week, but Friday’s two jamborees in Minden will give fans a taste of what’s to come.
The annual Pineland Jamboree at Minden’s W.W. Williams Stadium starts at 6 p.m. with Lakeside taking on Haynesville. That “game” will be followed by Lakeside vs. North Webster, Minden vs. Haynesville, North Webster vs. Homer and Homer vs. Minden.
The Minden Medical Center Apaches Jamboree starts at 6 at Glenbrook with the Apaches, Montgomery and Loyola competing.
Last week, coaches got a chance to see their teams in game-type situations in scrimmages. Friday’s games will be a chance to further fine-tune things in preparation for next week’s season openers.
Every team will still be 0-0 after Friday’s action. The scores won’t be remembered by most.
But don’t get the idea that teams aren’t trying to win.
For some teams, a jamboree “win” can provide momentum heading into season openers. However, most coaches will tell you that the the best thing about a jamboree is getting through it without injuries. Being at full strength or as close to it as possible for season openers is crucial.
Last week, Minden scrimmaged former District 1-4A rival Benton last week. Head Coach Spencer Heard, who became the school’s all-time wins leader last season, liked what he saw.
“I thought it was one of the better ones I’ve been around over the years,” he said. “I thought both sides got a lot of good work out of it. We played more situational stuff that’s kind of typical in a scrimmage. So I thought it was good. We did live special teams and everything so we got a look at that.”
“I thought our special teams looked good. One returning kicker and two new kickers all did well. I thought overall it was good. Obviously things to work on.”
Minden’s jamboree opponents will provide different challenges. Haynesville, the 2023 non-select Division IV runner-up, usually prefers to keep the ball on the ground. Homer, which has moved up from Class 1A to 2A, prefers a more wide-open attack.
In many jamborees, teams face only one opponent and can focus on that team.
“Being that we have five teams we have to play two different teams,” Heard said. “We’re playing Haynesville and Homer so it’s two drastically different offenses. So that’s always kind of tough. It’s a challenge. We’re looking forward to it.”
Heard said it’s good the Tide gets another opportunity to work on special teams. Plus, he said he and his staff are going to try out a couple of personnel changes.
Otherwise, he just wants to see his team do the little things right.
“Nothing major though,” he said. “Minor things. And then just try to get better schematically on both sides of the ball.”
Minden faces Homer in Week 2 of the regular season in their home opener. The Tide open the season Sept. 6 at Mansfield.
North Webster also plays Homer in Week 4. The jamboree will be the first for the team with Christopher Wilson as head coach.
North Webster opens the season at Haynesville Sept. 6.
John Ward was part of many Pineland Jamborees as head coach at North Webster. But this will be his first as head coach at Lakeside.
According to a report in The Ruston Daily Leader, the Warriors had an impressive performance in last week’s scrimmage against Cedar Creek.
Lakeside visits Arcadia in its season opener Sept. 6.
Glenbrook’s jamboree opponents, Loyola and Montgomery, will be looking for improvement this season. The Flyers, who have moved up from 2A to 4A, went 4-6 last season. The Tigers went 5-5.
Glenbrook opens the season Sept. 6 in Shreveport against Magnolia School of Excellence.