PIGSKIN FANS GET SNEAK PREAVIEW

If high school football players haven't nailed down a starting spot yet, tonight might be their last chance before the season starts.

Many area coaches will use tonight's jamborees to set their depth charts.

"Basically, wanting to see who's football ready," said Chaffee coach Allan Horrell, whose Red Devils will be on exhibition in Caruthersville. "We'll try setting our first and second teams. And we're looking to find the aggressive players to fill in the special teams."

For the first time in two years, Jackson and Cape Central won't be playing their jamboree in Perryville.

Jackson will play host to the Tigers, Perryville and St. Vincent at 6 tonight.

"It's nice to have it at home," Jackson coach Carl Gross said. "Especially to showcase all the work that the booster club's done with the scoreboard and the press box. The field looks great."

Though the jamboree isn't near a game-type situation -- there are no special teams as the ball is placed at the 30-yard line and moved downfield -- it gives players an opportunity to face different and usually better competition than what they've seen in practice. Each team will play every other team at the jamboree and each squad will run 12 offensive plays per session.

The jamboree at Jackson will start with Perryville vs. Jackson, followed by Central vs. St. Vincent, Jackson vs. St. Vincent, Central vs. Jackson and Perryville vs. St. Vincent. Each team will get 12 offensive plays against every other team.

Central and Perryville fans are advised to sit on the north side of the stadium while St. Vincent and Jackson are urged to sit on the bleachers on the south side of the field.

Admission for the jamboree at Jackson will be $3 for adults and $2 for students.

In other jamborees, Scott City and Fredericktown and Portageville will meet at Dexter at 7 p.m. Chaffee, along with Hayti and Kennett will travel to Caruthersville at 6:30. Sikeston, New Madrid and Jennings will make the trip to East Prairie at 6:30 p.m. And Charleston, Malden and West Plains will play at Poplar Bluff.