Football frenzy

The evening air will be filled with football as a handful of jamborees and scrimmages will officially open the season Friday.

 For the first time since practice in pads officially began, teams will see a different colored helmet when lining up on the opposite side.

 While few coaches show much of a game plan, it does give them a chance to run formations and see how players react under game type situations.

 No event draws a bigger crowd to Rabobank Stadium than the annual Salinas City Jamboree, where Alisal, Alvarez, North Salinas and Salinas line up at 7:15 p.m.

 The reigning two-time Gabilan Division champion Cowboys showcase one of the top quarterbacks in the section in Carl Richardson, who has an offer on the table from Washington State.

 Alisal believes it's a contender in the Mission Division. North Salinas has good size in the trenches while Alvarez has embraced building a program in the Gabilan.

 Defending Santa Lucia champion Gonzales gets back on the field for the first time since its magical 11-1 season, hosting the South County Jamboree at 7 p.m.

 Moved to the Cypress Division, the Spartans are chasing new goals this fall. Soledad is taking aim at a fourth straight postseason appearance behind all-league linebacker Jaycob Olivas.

 King City closed last season winning two of its final three games, while Greenfield has its largest turnout in over a decade.

 Owners of 36 straight playoff appearances, Palma will host St. Ignatius in a scrimmage Friday at 4 p.m. while North County, San Benito and host Seaside will have a jamboree type format.

 Pacific Grove and Marina are slated to scrimmage Friday, while Trinity will scrimmage at Anzar in eight man football on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

 The only teams not slated to scrimmage or take part in a jamboree type setting this weekend are Carmel, Monterey and Stevenson.