The excitement had been building all week in the Hannibal High football camp. The players knew that this Friday, they would be able to “go live” in a scrimmage situation on the field for the first time this summer. To their credit, the Pirates took full advantage of their opportunity. With head coach Quentin Hamner and his staff of assistants looking on, HHS hit the turf early in the morning at Porter Stadium and strapped on the pads and let the leather fly as they continued preparation for their season opener against the Crusaders of Helius on Friday, August 28. We have highlights to share with “Pirate Nation” since fans were not allowed inside the stadium during the scrimmage.

Also in the “Show Me State, the Bulldogs of Louisiana are focused on turning around their recent fortunes on the prep gridiron this season after a very disappointing 2019 campaign. WGEM’s Garrett Tiehes checks in with LHS head coach Greg Pitzer for my details on the Dawgs and their expectations for the upcoming campaign on the turf.

At Mark Twain High School, the Tigers football program will return to action on the practice turf on Tuesday, August 25 in Center, Missouri. That’s good news considering that squad has been in quarantine recently after a player on their 2020 roster tested positive for COVID-19. Unfortunately, MTHS head coach Karl Asbury won’t be able to guide his squad into action during Week 1 of the new season on Football Friday Night. We’ll have the story.