JV, Jr. high football to play today
By Sam Waller
The Albany Junior High Cubs and Albany Lions JV get their football seasons underway Thursday, Aug. 31 (today) with games at Dublin.
The action starts with the seventh grade at 4:30 p.m., followed by the eighth grade at 6:00 p.m. and JV at 7:30 p.m.
Albany athletic director Ryder Peacock, who is coaching the junior high with Tate Thompson, said he expects the seventh grade to be conducted more as a scrimmage than a full game.
“I’m not sure what the plan is,” Peacock said Monday. “We’ll just play it by ear and see.”
The junior high teams have been practicing since Thursday, Aug. 17, the first day of school. The JV, coached by David Fairchild, has been working out with the varsity since July 31.
Both junior high and JV teams have nine-game schedules that follow the varsity, but with the sites reversed. Peacock said adding a 10th game for each team the week of Sept. 28, the varsity’s bye week, is being investigated.
The JV did not play last week against Lubbock Trinity Christian, but Lion head football coach Denney Faith has been looking for an extra game for the last few weeks. A handful of JV players suited up for last week’s varsity game at Trinity.
In addition to being the first time on the field against an opponent, Peacock said going on the road will be a learning experience for the junior high teams in terms of packing the necessary equipment.
“We’ve been working for almost two weeks, and we’ve had the kids suiting out, so they ought to have everything,” he said. “The first trip, they’ll be a little nervous, a little jittery making sure they have everything. We try to take a few extras just in case.”
