The unofficial start of the football season in Chester County has officially been set.
The lineup for the annual Chester County Football Jamboree, which features all three county schools, was unveiled last week. The event, which is set for August 12 at Chester High School, will open up at 6 p.m. with Lewisville facing off against the Hickory Hawks. The game will mark the debut of Leon Boulware, new head football coach at Lewisville. The Hawks are a private, Christian-based team from North Carolina featuring home-schooled players, along with some private and public school athletes. The team posted a 5-7 record in 2021. The Hawks actually have some experience and familiarity with Chester County, having played both Great Falls and Chester last season. The Lions are coming off a 3-6 season that saw them lose six straight after a 3-0 start.
At 7:15 p.m., the Great Falls Red Devils, led by third-year coach Demarcus Simons, will take on AA Blacksburg. In 2021, Great Falls had a winning record and won a playoff game for the first time in eight years. Some key pieces have moved on, with three Red Devils signing to play at the college level, but numbers and enthusiasm are up for the program.
Blacksburg struggled in terms of wins and losses in 2021, going 1-8, but was competitive in most games.
The nightcap for the event will feature the host Chester Cyclones against Richland Northeast. Chester is coming off an outstanding season that saw them advance all the way to the upperstate championship game, where they lost in a competitive game to eventual AAA state champion Daniel. Coach Victor Floyd has kept his team busy this summer with 7-on-7 team camps, lineman challenges and other activities. Richland Northeast, a AAAA power, went 3-7 last year.
In addition to providing local teams a final tune-up before the start of the regular season on August 19, the jamboree will feature a ceremony honoring past athletic great from across the county. The list of honorees has yet to be finalized at this time.
