CODY LEIST

PDT Sports Writer

Today marks one week until the traditional start of high school football in the state of Ohio and the final weekend before the start of the soccer regular season.

Many area football teams will be participating in their final dress rehearsals before the curtain is raised on the 2012 season. For some, they will be playing in their third scrimmage of the preseason, dubbed as Jamboree games.

These events tend to be as close to actual game situations as possible with coaches having the opportunity to change some of the format rules. Each school that decides to participate in the Jamboree format may charge admission to these outings as the OHSAA requires a $250 fee per school to conduct the event.

According to an OHSAA release, the funds from the Jamboree games go directly to the Catastrophic Injury Fund. The CIF, which insures every athlete in junior high and high school, is used when a catastrophic injury takes place for an athlete that totals at least $25,000.

All OHSAA-affiliated schools do not pay membership or insurance fees with this plan. In the last two seasons, the OHSAA has raised $70,000 each towards the fund as the annual insurance premium exceeds $600,000.

The scrimmages for area teams start at 6 p.m. as Waverly travels to Circleville. The remaining schools will kick off during the 7 p.m. hour.

The remaining games are as follows: Piketon at Portsmouth, West at Wilmington, Alexander at Northwest, Wheelersburg at Columbus Bishop Ready, Minford at Fairland, Southern at Notre Dame, Chillicothe Southeastern at East, Symmes Valley at Rock Hill, Ironton at Coal Grove.

As of press time, Valley and Green did not have scrimmages scheduled. Fans should note scrimmage sites may charge admission to attend the events.

If soccer is more of the desired sport, the SOC preview will also take place from 5-10 p.m. tonight at New Boston. The evening starts with Nortwest and Beaver Eastern at 5 p.m., Ironton St. Joseph will take on a Wheelersburg split squad at 6 p.m., West and Valley tangle at 7 p.m., the other half of the Pirate roster faces South Webster at 8 p.m. and the event ends with a 9 p.m. start between Minford and the host Tigers, who will hold a moment of silence for former assistant coach Rocky Dunkin, who suddenly passed away this summer.

Admission is $5 for the soccer preview and SOC passes will be honored. If inclement weather should take place, the preview will be moved to Saturday night with the same start times according to New Boston Athletic Director Don Stapleton.

Cody Leist can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 242, or cleist@heartlandpublications.com.