The Minden Crimson Tide will face defending 1A state champions Haynesville High School in the second game of tonight’s Pineland Jamboree.
Haynesville, who hosted the Pineland Jamboree last season, will travel to Minden to play at The Pit in this year’s edition.
Joining the Crimson Tide and Golden Tornado will be Rayville and North Webster, a pair of Class 3A semi-finalists.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Heard said. “The last two years we’ve gone somewhere else for the jamboree. I think it will be exciting for the fans and our kids to have it here and start our year with a home game.”
Coming off state championship No. 17, the Golden Tornado have plenty of talent back for a run at a third straight title.
Leading the way is a 240 pound swiss army knife in three-star prospect Keandre Harris.
He is supported by fellow all-district returnees Brian Randall, K.Z. Larkin, Treyvon Hunter and Tony Critton.
With firepower well above that of most 1A schools, Haynesville is just the type of physical test the Tide need heading into a season that starts off tough with a road game at Southwood and a home date against rival Haughton.
“They’re definitely a typical Haynesville team,” Heard said. “Very disciplined, they have some big, fast kids. I think it will be a good test for us, especially in the box and in terms of the run game. We’ll find out exactly where we’re at.”
Rayville and North Webster will play in the first game of the night, pitting the 3A powers in an early clash of the titans.
Rayville took eventual state champion Livonia to the last play last year and have 15 starters back, while North Webster lost to Amite in the semi-finals and returns a good group of seniors, led by one of the nation’s elite prospects in Devin White.