BAKER — All too often, Kickoff Classic football games are anything but classic.
But that shouldn’t be the case Friday, when Baker School's team travels to District 1-1A rival Jay for the preseason version of the War on Highway 4.
The Royals won last year’s preseason game, but the Gators got revenge during the regular-season game.
Baker Coach Matt Brunson expects a busy night for both teams as they look at their middle-school and high-school players in a dress rehearsal setting.
“We are going to have middle school, JV (junior varsity), (varsity) backups and best-on-best (starters) late in the second half,” he said. “We want to get everybody on the field, under the lights, in a game situation against an opponent and get ready for week one.
“We are going to do what we do, but at the same time it is a Kickoff Classic, and we are going to do our best to look at everybody in a game situation.”
Brunson and the Gator staff know what to expect from veterans such as Jon Beck, Montae Barto and Austin Davis. While the proven seniors won’t be fighting for a starting job, their performance will be judged.
"Bottom line is we will be grading pad level, punch (and) feet after contact,” Brunson said. “We want to win the line of scrimmage. Ball security is the second most important thing.
“Those are some of the things we are looking forward to, not so much game planning to beat Jay. But they will be keeping score so we are going to try to be successful.
"Everybody in our program has a strong desire to be successful, and they are working towards it.”
WHAT: Kickoff Classic football game, Baker vs. Jay
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21
WHERE: Jay High School, Alabama Street, Jay
COST: Not available
UPCOMING
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: GRADING TIME: Baker Gator football staffers to judge performance during Kickoff Classic