Friday night’s jamboree will be a beta test for Vicksburg High, before rolling out the football team in the Red Carpet Bowl next week. This is the last preseason event head coach Marcus Rogers has to work out the kinks of his team.

Rogers is looking for his team to get a lot of reps in a game simulated environment against people other than those wearing the same colored jerseys as his players. He doesn’t want them to risk injury during the week, so he lets his players wrap each other up before blowing a quick whistle.

The jamboree against Jefferson County will be a different scenario.

“On Friday night, we’ll be live on all of it and we’ll be able to go 100 mph and that’s our goal,” Rogers said. “We want to use this to our advantage and get ready for the Red Carpet Bowl.”

Vicksburg will play Jefferson County at 7:30 p.m.

Rogers will be studying how physical his team can be. Because he has so much faith in its ability to throw the ball, Rogers wants to focus on the run game.

Friday will differ from the seven-on-seven scrimmages in the summer and spring games in May because it’ll be played under actual game rules.

In seven-on-seven scrimmages there’s no offensive or defensive line. In the spring game, the ball was spotted at the 30-yard line; after four downs, the teams change possession without punting.

The junior varsity will play in two 15-minute quarters with a running clock, no special teams or point after touchdown. The varsity will be officiated with normal rules for two quarters.

Playing in a condensed time frame allows Rogers to address the depth at certain positions.

“The JV will get a chance to play the whole two quarters and we got the varsity for two quarters and we’ll just rotate our D-line and try to get a two- to three-man rotation on our offensive line,” Rogers said.

The Gators have ample depth on the receiving side and will play two sets of receivers and two quarterbacks Friday.

“It’s just something I can feel during the game,” Rogers said.

Since May, the Gators have been preparing for the season opener against Harrison Central next week in the Red Carpet Bowl at Warren Central. Rogers said no matter the opponent in the jamboree, the team’s focus never wavered from Harrison Central.

“It’s something we use as a measuring stick to where we need to be to make sure that my quarterback is live and to get the jitters out. It’s the preliminary leading up to the big game next Friday,” Rogers said. “We’re just going to show up, play the jamboree and get good reps.”