Jamboree Wednesday, Aug. 10

The aurora, visible from nearly anywhere in the area, is unmistakable, yet seemingly out of place on a hot summer evening in early August.

Surely it can’t be football season already, can it?

One thing is certain – if you want to get to the football stadium at Polk County High School, there is no need to ask for directions – just follow the glow of the stadium lights.

On Friday evening, Aug. 5, the Polk County Wolverines football team took to the field just before the stroke of midnight for the third time in as many years.

In what has become an annual ritual, head coach Bruce Ollis’ squad marked the first day that North Carolina teams are allowed full contact practice with a series of hard hitting drills, followed by a spirited 11-on-11 scrimmage in front of an enthusiastic crowd of friends and family. According to Ollis, the evening was everything he hoped to see and more.

“I was very pleased,” said Ollis of the action that stretched into the wee hours of Saturday morning. “It was spirited, the kids were physical – after lifting weights and running all summer, it’s good to be able to get after each other a little bit.”

Though the Wolverines have been hard at work all summer, the evening brought the upcoming season into clear focus and marked the beginning of a whirlwind of activity.

The team resumes practice this week in preparation for tomorrow evening’s Wolverine Jamboree at Polk County High, which pits squads from East Rutherford, Broome and West Henderson against Polk County in a multi-team scrimmage format beginning at 6 p.m.

“It always raises the level of intensity when you get to go up against some opposite colored jerseys,” said Ollis. “It should be a lot of fun.”

Then, on Saturday, Aug. 13, the team travels south to Gaffney High School for the 7 p.m. kickoff of the Border Showcase Football Classic VII, where the Wolverines will face off against a powerhouse Spartanburg High School team for the team’s first contest of the season.