By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
The phrase “bigger and better” fits the first “Battle on the Bricks” high school football jamboree set for Turpin Stadium Friday and Saturday.
There’s been a local jamboree for many years, sponsored recently by Natchitoches Regional Medical Center. The local hospital’s support has been steady, and has attracted additional sponsors.
This year, it’s attracted additional teams and gotten a new name. Start with the three local schools – Natchitoches Central, St. Mary’s and Lakeview.
The fan out to two from Vernon Parish, 2024 Class 4A semifinalist Leesville (bringing varsity and junior varsity squads), and Pickering.
Look down I-49 and add Menard and Tioga, then go into the pine trees north of the Red River for Red River, Grant, LaSalle, and Winnfield.
It will provide six games, three each day. Tickets sold at each participating school produce revenue that stays at the school.
Friday’s schedule begins at 4 o’clock with Lakeview meeting the Leesville JV, then an appealing Class 2A clash at 6 between Winnfield and Menard.
Natchitoches Central tangles with Leesville at 8 to wrap up the opening night.
Saturday’s slate kicks off at noon when Tioga squares off against Red River. Grant and LaSalle battle at 2, and St. Mary’s wraps up the two-day jamboree at 4 taking on Pickering.
Teams will play two 12-minute quarters. The regular season begins on the first weekend in September.
Coaches and two players from each school participated in a “Battle on the Bricks” media session Monday at the hospital’s Listach Room.
“I truly believe this can become something that will be great for not just the local area, but the region. We have great quality teams, great coaches, and a lot of history of friendships throughout the coaching staffs, the players and the communities,” said St. Mary’s coach Kedrin Seastrunk.
NCHS coach Brad Laird said he and assistant coach Pete Townsend, who was the coordinator putting together the jamboree, are modeling it after the longstanding “Bayou Jamb” hosted annually at ULM and involving nearly two dozen north Louisiana teams over a three-day span in Monroe.
“Coming back last year, from Bayou Jamb, Coach Townsend asked, ‘why can’t we do that in Natchitoches? Why can’t we do that in Turpin Stadium? A hundred percent credit to Coach Townsend for the work he’s done since last August to get this going in a much bigger way,” said Laird.
“It’s been great. We have a beautiful stadium. We have Northwestern State. We have a great community to show off to visitors,” said Townsend.
Over and over, coaches and players from outside of Natchitoches Parish expressed their excitement about playing in a college stadium and visiting the NSU campus, while fans can also enjoy spending time in Natchitoches.
“We expect this to be a very good start and we intend to make it bigger and better going forward,” said Laird. “We can’t thank our sponsors enough for making this possible.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com
