Never has a different colored uniform on the other side of the line of scrimmage looked so refreshing.
After two weeks of staring at teammates, most programs will get the feel of Friday Night Lights with a trio of jamborees on Friday and a pair of scrimmages kicking off the 2017 high school football season in Monterey County.
The Salinas City Jamboree will showcase all four Salinas public schools at 7 p.m. at Rabobank, including Salinas, who for the first time in a decade, has a new head coach in Steven Zenk.
"I’d like to get a real look at our depth versus opponents,’’ Zenk said. "We know what we have versus each other now. I’m curious how we match up against other teams.’’
An assistant the last three years for the Cowboys, Zenk previously spent seven years as a head coach at North Salinas before coming across town, guiding the Vikings to a share of the old Tri-County Athletic League title in 2008.
Alisal, Alvarez and North Salinas will get reacquainted as well. All three teams will see each other later in the fall.
"The jamboree will let us know what we’re doing,’’ North Salinas coach Darren Spence said after a recent practice.
Two-time state meet wrestling qualifier Matt Martinez will quarterback Alvarez while Brett Reade and his nearly 1,600 passing yards from last fall return for Salinas.
"We’re looking to evaluate some of our players still competing for roles on our team,’’ second year Alvarez coach Brad Mendes said. "We just want to come out smoothly, executing the type of football we want to play.’’
The South County Jamboree will take place at 7 p.m. in King City, with the host Mustangs being joined by Greenfield, Gonzales and Central Coast Section Division IV champion Soledad.
The Aztecs closed last season with six straight wins to set a school record for consecutive wins and wins in a single season (10), bringing home the programs first ever section championship.
"We’re looking to build chemistry and showcasing our skill set,’’ Soledad coach Frankie Berlanga said.
Emmanuel Ortega and his nearly 1,800 rushing yards from last fall are back for a senior season for Soledad as is King City quarterback Tommy Stephens, who threw for 1,853 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, and intercepted six passes on defense.
Gonzales will debut new coach Art Berlanga, who spent the last four years as a defensive assistant at Hartnell College.
Pacific Grove will host a jamboree Friday at 6:30 p.m., that will include perennial power San Benito, CCS Division IV semifinalist Gilroy and Seaside.
The Spartans, who won the Pacific Division last year, have been bumped to the Gabilan Division this fall.
Gilroy has two 1,000 yard running backs returning while Pacific Grove lost over 80 percent of its offense last year to graduation.
"Honestly, I hope to get out of it unscathed and let our young guys get their feet wet,’’ Pacific Grove coach Chris Morgan said.
Palma will scrimmage St. Ignatius Friday at 4:30 p.m. while North County and Monterey will meet in a scrimmage on the Castroville campus at 5 p.m.
"We’re looking to give my inexperienced players valuable reps against someone other than fellow Chieftains,’’ Palma coach Jeff Carnazzo said.
Palma has made 32 consecutive postseason appearances.
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