By CT McDonald
Just a week before the 2019 regular season kicks-off, this week’s football jamborees give coaches, players and fans a final look at where they stand before game results go on the season record.
Two District Five varsity football squads will play in the 38th annual Sumter Sertoma Jamboree Friday at Sumter County’s Memorial Stadium.
Irmo’s varsity football squad is set to open the jamboree Friday against Crestwood at 7 pm, weather permitting. If the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) monitoring test indicates that heat and humidity are too high the games could be delayed until the indicator drops to an acceptable level.
Then Dutch Fork takes on host team Sumter in the second match of the jamboree at about 8 pm. And finally, Lee Central and Lakewood wrap it up in the nightcap starting at 9 pm.
Dutch Fork, Irmo and Sumter are the three Class 5A teams competing, while Crestwood and Lakewood compete at the 4A level, and Lee Central at the 2A level. Irmo and Sumter are Region 4-5A opponents during the regular season.
The jamboree format will be two 12-minute quarters for each matchup, all live, three timeouts for each team and no overtime. Admission is $8 per person.
Then following Friday’s many jamborees and sportsaramas, Chapin will host its 5th annual Aun and McKay Kickoff Classic on Saturday at Cecil Woolbright Field, with Newberry and Barnwell playing at 6 pm, Spring Valley and Laurens at 7 pm and Mid-Carolina and Gray Collegiate at 8 pm.
Then Chapin takes on Westwood in the nightcap at 9 pm to wrap it up. The Eagles will be playing their second season as a 5A school this year, with Spring Valley and Laurens the other two 5A competitors in this year’s Classic. Westwood is a 4A team, while Newberry and Mid-Carolina play at the 3A level and Gray Collegiate at the 2A level.
After this week’s preseason activities some of the varsity football teams start the regular season in Week 0 next week. Others begin in Week 1 on August 30.
In District Five, it’s Irmo at Lexington August 23 at 7:30 pm, Chapin plays host to archrival Mid-Carolina August 30, and Dutch Fork opens the South Carolina High School League regular season against a SC opponent at Spring Valley, also Friday, August 30. All games start at 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted.
But the Silver Foxes will play next week on their home turf. As reported last week, Dutch Fork will play host to North Carolina’s Mallard Creek Friday, August 23 at 6 pm, and it is to air on ESPN 2 sports television.
