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Nevada football prepares for jamboree
High school football jamborees are a lot like NFL preseason games.
They offer the first opportunity of the season for fans to see their favorite teams in action.
They allow players to hit someone other than their own teammate.
And they scare the heck out of head coaches.
“It’s real similar to that, because some guys really like it, and I understand that, but I’m a guy that’s lost two starters in my career at jamborees. If you’ve lost some kids over the years, you’re just really nervous about, ‘Man, I just want to get back on the bus when this thing’s over and go home with everybody healthy,’” said Nevada High School’s Wes Beachler, whose squad will travel to Carthage on Friday for 18 offensive and defensive plays against Carl Junction and the hosting Tigers, as well as get its first look at Big 8 West opponent Monett. “My goal is to see where we’re at, get a lot of kids some playing time, and nobody gets hurt.”
In addition to monitoring injuries, Beachler and his staff (including defensive backs coach Cole Sanderson, who suffered an injury at a jamboree his sophomore season at NHS that cost him two weeks of football) will be keeping a close eye on a few position battles — none more important than at left tackle.
An absence due to ineligibility has opened a big hole on the left side of Nevada's offensive line, forcing a reshuffling at both guard positions and right tackle.
Beachler said he likes what he’s seen out of those other four spots, but solidifying that left tackle position is a top priority ahead of next Friday’s season opener against Logan-Rogersville.
“It’s good to see where we’re at,” Beachler said of the jamboree. “Obviously, you’ve got your best 14 or 15 kids running your offense and rotating a few kids in. Then you have some kids that maybe aren’t quite ready for Friday night that they’re scrimmaging against. So, it’s good to see another high school team’s starting-caliber kids to see where they’re at.”
