Varnado and Pine have one last tune up prior to the beginning of the regular season, as the two clubs are competing in separate contests at the Live Oak Jamboree.
Varnado is facing East Iberville at 5 p.m. while Pine is going against Albany at 6:20 p.m.
The Wildcats enter this season after a playoff season. Varnado reached the Class 1A state playoffs last season and defeated Ringgold, 44-8, in the bi-district round before falling to West St. John, 51-0, in the regionals. West St. John reached the semifinals before losing to eventual state champion, Haynesville, 26-13.
East Iberville made it to the Class 1A playoffs last year but lost in the opening round to Logansport, 48-0. Logansport made it to the regionals.
Varnado coach Scott Shaffett said he wants to see how his club plays together as a team.
“I want to see if we’re prepared,” Shaffett said. “With the potential we’ve got, we don’t want to wait until the second quarter to start playing. Do we have the fight and the desire in us? It’s a jamboree. It’s not going to affect us in the wins and losses column, but it will set the tone for the season.”
Shaffett also said he wants to see if his senior class will rise up to the challenge.
“I want to see if they will step up in the leadership roles,” Shaffett said. “This is their senior season, so what we do will depend on what they want in their senior year.”
Varnado scrimmaged St. John of Plaquemine last week.
In the sets of plays, D.J. Jefferson threw a touchdown pass to Delrick Abrams. Desmond Harry and Wilbert Gray scored a rushing touchdown each.
When the teams went to goal line situation, Varnado scored three touchdowns in four plays while St. John posted one. Gray and Daren had rushing scores and Jefferson threw to Armontee Kemp for the other.
In the 12-minute period, Darden tallied a 1-yard rushing touchdown, and Jefferson hit Abrams for a 60-yard tally.
Pine enters this season attempting to reach the postseason for the third consecutive season. The Raiders won their first playoff football game ever by defeating St. Helena College & Career Academy, 28-20, in the opening round of the Class 2A state playoffs. The Raiders lost in the regional round to Kinder, 37-6. Kinder was the Class 2A state runner up.
Pine coach Bradley Seal spoke about what he is looking for in this evening’s jamboree.
“Offensively, we’ve got get a little crisper. We had some pre-snap mistakes, which is to be expected when you’re running a new offense, but we need to eliminate those this week, Seal said. “Defensively, I was happy with what we did. We just need to keep doing that.”
Seal said that junior middle linebacker Tate Roach had a nice game last week.
“He’s been doing a good job of getting our defense prepared, knowing what to expect and getting them lined up right,” Seal said.
Offensively, Seal said Jarwin Jordan ran the ball well for the Raiders.
Pine and Varnado open the regular season on the road next Friday.
The Raiders are heading to Pearl River while the Wildcats are traveling to Biloxi, Miss. to play St. Patrick.