Ready for football?

Each team may only have a limited number of offensive plays and score is not even kept, but when schools across the state hit the field in the annual jamborees tonight the start of high school football will officially be here.

Think of high school jamborees in terms of that final NFL preseason game. Coaches are finalizing depth charts, taking a look at offensive and defensive formations and trying to hone their team's execution.

Jackson coach Carl Gross said playing well is important, but jamborees are more for getting film on untested players and players in position battles.

"There are certain things you look at more than the score," he said.

Gridiron rivals Central and Jackson will get an early look at each other tonight at Jackson. Festus will join the local teams with a 6:30 p.m. start time.

With plenty of new faces on the sideline for the Tigers, tonight's jamboree will give some of the players a taste of what varsity football is all about.

"For me personally, I use them to get a feel for what our team's spirit level might be going into the year," Central coach Lawrence Brookins said. "I want to find out about our heartbeat."

Both teams will have plenty key players and positions to work out, especially at quarterback. Jackson has a veteran behind center in senior Joey Starke, who is coming off of two junior varsity seasons at quarterback. Starke takes over for the tandem of Tyler Profilet and Marc Lumsden.

Gross said playing in the jamboree it is important to see the different looks of his offense.

"You only get 18 snaps off," he said. "What you've got to do is try and look at as much of your offense as you can."

Central fans looking to see senior Tyrone Reece getting a taste at varsity quarterback will have to wait, as a recent injury will sideline the Tigers' projected starting quarterback for several weeks. Instead, the Tigers will unveil a pair of young quarterbacks in sophomore Blake Slattery and freshman Garrett Stevens.

"You're looking at two young kids, as raw as can be," Brookins said.

Slattery, who was moved to the quarterback position over the summer, will likely see the majority of the snaps.

"I think given a little time, he'll be a decent, potentially above-average quarterback," Brookins said of Slattery. "It will be interesting to see how he handles his first taste."

Central and Jackson will meet for real at Jackson Oct. 8.

Scott City coach Terry Flanigan will be back in the blue and gold tonight as the Rams travel to Dexter for a four-team jamboree. Flanigan last coached at Scott City in 1998, and since his departure the Rams have had four different head coaches. Dexter, Kennett and Portageville will join Scott City with a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Perryville will visit East Prairie in another four-team jamboree. The Pirates will face a trio of SEMO Conference teams in East Prairie, New Madrid County Central and Sikeston. Perryville will get an early look at new district foe NMCC.

St. Vincent travels to St. Pius for a four-team MAFC Blue Division jamboree. The Indians will face all three jamboree squads in consecutive weeks starting with the fourth week of the season. St. Vincent is coming off a conference and district championship season.

Chaffee will not attend a jamboree, with its sights set on a showdown with Grandview to open the season on Sept. 3.