Local teams know where to improve after jamboree

North Side’s jamboree against Haywood was moved to the Reservation, which meant there were three jamborees on the northern end of Madison County on Friday.

University School of Jackson came away with a 7-0 win over Milan.

Noah Spencer ran in from about five yards out for the Bruins’ only score.

“Milan had five possessions, and I’m proud of our guys for competing hard all night and keeping them from scoring,” said USJ head coach Derrick Pritchard. “We had some young guys step in and play some roles they’d never played, and they responded well for the most part.

“We’ve had some scrimmages under the lights that gave our guys a chance to be in that environment, but this was the first full experience with the lights on and the popcorn popping. So this was good to get them out there tonight.”

Jackson Christian hosted Westview, and the teams played to a 14-14 tie in two 15-minute quarters with a running clock.

Fullback Trent Carrier and another big back, Caleb Newsome, each had a touchdown from a few yards out to put the Eagles up 14-0 in the first quarter.

Westview was able to get a couple of touchdowns, including one on the last snap of varsity play, to avoid the preseason loss that wouldn’t have counted in the standings anyway.

The Eagles did have a few key players who didn’t play, and head coach Darby Palmer said that gave some of the younger players an early opportunity to show what they could do in a live situation.

“I feel better about our depth because of the way those young guys played than I did before the game,” Palmer said about the jamboree scrimmage.

North Side may have put together the most surprising performance of the night in all of West Tennessee as the Indians pummeled Haywood 34-6.

The game’s final score is a stark contrast to the final score from the game last year when the teams were in the same region. The Tomcats won that game 47-0.

“We didn’t do anything that outlandish or anything like that,” said first-year coach Woodrow Lowe Jr. “The guys just executed all night and did a great job.”

While there is plenty to celebrate from the performance, Lowe said Indian fans need to not read too much into the win.

“It was great, but this game doesn’t even count,” Lowe said. “I’m glad to see the guys play as well as they did, but we’ve got to get ready for Crockett County because that game counts.”

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news