Chamberlain High Hosts Spring Football Jamboree

Sitting on the bench gasping for air and guzzling water after an unsuccessful drive, the Chamberlain High School offense listens to an assistant coach as he breaks down the play they failed to convert.

More than anything, more than the statistics, more than scores, that was what Friday night's high school football Jamboree was about.

It was an opportunity for the Chamberlain, Blake, Hillsborough, and Middleton high school teams to see how they looked on the field, access what was working and what was not, as they prepare for the kickoff of the 2011 season this fall.

“We are looking for effort. We are looking for alignment. And we are looking for execution,” said Hillsborough head coach Earl Garcia, who lead the team to a 8-5 record in the 2010 season.

The Terriers took it to the Middleton Tigers in their two quarters of action, scoring twice on offense, and twice on defense, thanks to a couple interceptions returned a long way for touchdowns, and clamping down defensively for the 28-0 shutout victory.

“When we sit down and evaluate the film, we can see where we broken down. Then we can implement certain things and get these guys better,” said Middleton coach Alonso Ashwood.

Like the other teams, for Middleton it was less about what went right, and more about what went wrong, and how to address those issues over the summer.

“We are playing our first game of the season in September, and I know the results won't be the same as you can see up there on the scoreboard tonight,” Coach Ashwood said.

“We are going to be hard to stop.”

The Blake Yellow Jackets played a more tightly contested half, edging out the host Chamberlain Chiefs 14-13. Blake coach Harry Hubbard saw some issues, not passing well on offense and not tackling to form on defense, but more than anything he was pleased with his team seeing just what it takes to win.

“That was just a half. Everybody sees now that it is going to take even harder work. We have to understand that it takes everybody,” said Hubbard.

For the Chiefs, they saw a good effort undone but a few costly mistakes on special teams.

“If it wasn’t for special teams it would have been thirteen-zip,” said Chamberlain head coach Billy Turner.

Coach Turner was pleased with the way they ran the ball, but saw some work to be done defensively picking up on the blitz.

“We’ll get better,” he promised.

With the season still months away there is time to work out the wrinkles, but the consensus among the four coaches was that there was plenty of work to be done, and that the season sneaks up faster than expected.