The dress rehearsal is next for the Salem High football squad.
The Tigers capped their first week of practice with a scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 16 at Schuchardt Stadium. Saturday was the first full-pad practice for Salem, which opened practice sessions Monday, Aug. 11.
“As heated as it was, the kids came out and we saw hitting, we saw competition and we saw improved play from our team camp,” said Salem head coach Neal Myers of Saturday’s scrimmage. “We cut back the scrimmage because of the heat, to 10 to 11:15 (a.m.). We got the reps we wanted for the varsity. If anything, it was the younger kids who got shorted (in reps).”
Salem ended the week with no further injuries. And now the team is preparing for action in the Sullivan Jamboree Friday, Aug. 22.
Action in the Sullivan Jamboree will begin at 7 p.m. Friday. Salem will play jamboree-type scrimmages against host Sullivan, Jefferson and Cuba. Also participating will be Lutheran South and Salem’s season-opening opponent, St. James.
During the jamboree there will be sessions on each side of the field, at the 40-yardlines going in (toward the endzones). Each school will run 12 offensive plays and 12 defensive plays against each of its three opponents.
Salem then opens its schedule Friday, Aug. 29 against St. James. Kickoff at Schuchardt Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
This week Salem begins game-type preparation for the jamboree as well as preliminary planning for the season-opener.
“We cut down a lot of the mistakes we saw in the St. Clair Team Camp,” Myers said. “With the first team we got out very well. We know there is more work to do. In the flexbone (offense) you’ve got to get reps and reps and reps to prepare for the jamboree and then the season. At the jamboree we’ll get to look at offensive fronts and blocking. We will taper it down Wednesday and Thursday to prepare for the jamboree.”
Here is Salem’s schedule:
Aug. 22 - Sullivan Jamboree
Oct. 17 - at Mtn. View Liberty*
Oct. 31 - District Game (tba)
