Scrimmage schedule
Thursday
Minden at Benton, 7
Friday
North Webster at Mangham, 6
Cedar Creek at Lakeside, 6
Glenbrook/ BTW at Jonesboro-Hodge, 6
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The march toward any football season follows a familiar path.
After offseason and summer workouts, there is the first official day of fall practice. That was Aug. 7 for most teams around the state.
This is scrimmage week with coaches getting a chance to see how their players perform against another team. For players, it’s a welcome change from going against their teammates.
All four parish teams are having scrimmages.
Minden visits former District 1-4A rival Benton on Thursday.
The other three are Friday. North Webster visits Mangham and Lakeside hosts Cedar Creek. Glenbrook is in a three-team scrimmage with Booker. T. Washington and host Jonesboro-Hodge.
Benton and Minden haven’t played in the regular season since 2018, the Tigers’ last year in 1-4A.
Benton is coming off an 8-4 season and runner-up finish in 1-5A. The Tigers have several new starters, including senior quarterback Jeffrey King. King contributed as a receiver last season and played a full game at quarterback, passing for 297 yards against Texas High.
Benton does return one of the top running backs in the state, Greg Manning, a three-year starter.
Minden returns one of the area’s best athletes, senior Jakobe Jackson. who will play a variety of positions on offense. The Tide are coming off a 4-6 season.
North Webster’s opponent Mangham went 10-2 last season and reached the non-select Division IV semifinals.
The Knights are looking to rebound from a 2-8 season.
Lakeside’s opponent Cedar Creek went 7-4 last season that included a victory in the first round of the select Division IV playoffs.
Lakeside went 5-6 last season and made the non-select Division III playoffs.
The teams Glenbrook faces in its scrimmage are coming off challenging seasons. Booker T. Washington, a member of District 1-4A, went 1-9. Jonesboro-Hodge, a member of District 3-2A, went 3-7.
Glenbrook is coming off an 11-1 season in its first year of LHSAA playoff eligibility. The Apaches have several new starters including junior quarterback Easton Sanders.
Glenbrook didn’t have spring practice so this will be the first opportunity new Head Coach Reagan Smith has to see his players in a game-type situation.