Notre Dame High School quarterback Alex Darras looks for an open player during the first day of practice in full pads for the 2015 football season. Notre Dame High School got used to playing football at Finley Stadium a year ago, so the short trip this evening for the Chick-fil-A jamboree might be less of a treat for the Irish than others.
They played their final three games of 2014 at Finley, winning two before falling to Alcoa in a Class 3A state playoff semifinal.
The treat for Notre Dame, though, may be a chance to compete against ridgeside neighbor McCallie.
"Any time you play a team like that and match your best with their best, it has meaning," Notre Dame coach Charles Fant said. "We like to play teams who are at their best. It gives us a chance to know where we really are."
Tonight's prep football jamborees
Chick-fil-A jamboree at Finley StadiumHoward vs. Brainerd, 7Grace Academy vs. Sale Creek, 7:30Chattanooga Christian vs. Tyner, 8Notre Dame vs. McCallie, 8:30Hixson vs. Red Bank, 9Baylor vs. McMinn Co., 9:30Sequatchie Valley jamboree at Bledsoe CountyLookout Valley vs. Bledsoe County, 7Silverdale Baptist vs. WhitwellGrundy County vs. South PittsburgSequatchie County vs. Marion County(Break for fastest back, lineman, punting contests)Silverdale Baptist vs. South PittsburgLookout Valley vs. Grundy CountyWhitwell vs. Marion CountyBledsoe County vs. Sequatchie County
The Irish lost 25 players from last year's final-four team, including 17 seniors and eight freshmen, half of whom didn't make the grade academically. While they have a quality senior class that includes quarterback Alex Darras and running back Ricky Ballard, they'll be playing numerous younger players against McCallie.
Notre Dame had its initial dress rehearsal a week ago in a scrimmage at Ringgold, which was important with so many new coaches joining the staff this year, but McCallie, even for a quarter, offers another opportunity.
"We were pleased with what we saw at Ringgold, but we saw numerous things we need to fix," Fant said. "To be able to play a team like McCallie is a big deal for us. We all know you need to be challenged before your first game, and we'll be looking for things we need to improve in that quarter."
McCallie, with quarterback JaVaughn Craig and cornerback Nygel Edmonds, and Notre Dame are just two of the reasons to attend the jamboree, which kicks off at 7 with rivals Howard and Brainerd squaring off. Another rivalry game is Hixson versus Red Bank at 9 before Baylor and McMinn County conclude the night at 9:30.
The second night of the Chick-fil-A jamboree will include five quarters featuring, among others, Ooltewah and Rhea County, returning state playoff performers and the two favorites to win Region 3-5A, and in the finale, perennial toughie Signal Mountain. Ooltewah will meet Franklin County at 8:30 and Rhea goes against East Hamilton at 9.
Bradley Central and Cleveland, annual jamboree participants, are sitting this one out after reported violations that led to TSSAA penalties.
Meanwhile, the Sequatchie Valley jamboree will take place tonight at Bledsoe County featuring state runner-up Marion County, the return of coach Vic Grider to South Pittsburg and two new head coaches - Josh Owensby at Bledsoe and Adam Caine at Sequatchie County. That affair is to begin at 7 EDT and also includes Lookout Valley, Silverdale Baptist, Whitwell and Grundy County.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.