Chargers coach Tim Smith is expecting the largest crowd ever to pack Michael B. Willis Memorial Field when six football teams travel to Cornerstone Christian Friday night for the school’s Kickoff Jamboree.

The event marks the second

year of preseason football at Cornerstone. Last season’s jamboree featured five teams including the Chargers.

&uot;It kind of gets those first-game kinks out of the way before it really counts,&uot; Smith said.

Teams will take part in live officiated scrimmages, giving players their first real-game experience of the summer.

The contests will mirror regular season play, except kickoffs and punts.

Play begins at 5:45 p.m. when Cornerstone takes on Jefferson Christian Academy. The teams will battle for two nine-minute quarters and then take a break, with JCA returning to play Shelby Academy for two quarters.

Each team will play its first two quarters against one team and then finish against a different team.

JCA will be relieved by Kingwood Christian School who finishes up against Autauga.

Selma’s Central Christian rotates in next and closes with new school East Memorial of Prattville.

Cornerstone will open and close the contest, playing its final two quarters against East Memorial.

Smith said having three of Shelby County’s four AISA teams at the scrimmage will allow players to watch some of their cross-town friends – and foes – battle on the gridiron.

&uot;It starts a good rivalry,&uot; Smith said. &uot;We never get to see each other play except when we play each other.&uot;

In other AISA action, Coosa Valley Academy will travel to Chambers for a Friday night jamboree game at 7 p.m