The Mandeville Skippers jamboree is tonight beginning at 6:30 with the Fontainebleau Bulldogs taking on the Holy Cross Tigers. Following that game the host Skippers lock horns with the John Curtis Patriots, the defending Class 2A state champs, scheduled to begin at 8 o’clock. Curtis finished the year at 12-2 last season.

Mandeville Skippers’ third-year coach Guy LeCompte said this is an interesting time for his players and everyone else around the country as they gear up to get the season off on a good note.

“Our players continue to work hard, and they are excited about playing against somebody else in a game-like situation. It has been a busy week for us preparing for the jamboree as well as our trip to Texas,” LeCompte said.

MHS quarterback Andy Bertoniere drops back for a pass during a practice session being protected by his offensive line. (Staff Photo by Mike Pervel)

After completing tonight’s jamboree, the Skippers and John Curtis Christian School plan to travel to Texas this weekend to compete in the Texas High School Classic Kick Off at Texas Stadium. They will face Texas schools on Monday.

John Curtis Patriots head coach J. T. Curtis, Jr., said his club is looking forward to the trip to the Northshore as well as its visit to Texas.

“I think this is the fourth year we have played in the Mandeville Jamboree. Coach LeCompte and I will be playing a number of players. We have both agreed prior to the jamboree that we would use it as a dress rehearsal for our Texas trip. We have both agreed to turn our focus toward Monday’s games at Texas Stadium,” Curtis said.

MHS senior cornerback Jerry Mitchell said he is excited about playing John Curtis.

“It’s always an exciting game. We will be ready to give a good effort,” Mitchell said.

Coach LeCompte said his club continues to have a strong competition at quarterback with senior Andy Bertoniere and juniors John Wenzel and Chris Houlemard.

MHS coming off a 10-3 season with a quarterfinal playoff appearance last year will need a solid defensive effort to control the John Curtis potent offense.

The FHS Bulldogs, which finished 6-5 last season, scrimmaged the Archbishop Shaw Eagles last Thursday at the Dawg Pound. FHS coach Gregg Hudson said this week’s opponent Holy Cross, likes to spread you out on defense.

“We watched them on film. They like to spread the ball around, operating out of the shotgun,” Hudson said. “We need to improve on some of the simple things on offense. We can’t afford to have mental mistakes. We have to do the little things right on offense to be successful.”

Hudson said last week his defensive front played well in the Shaw scrimmage.

“Our secondary needs to be quicker breaking to the ball, making a play on the football.”

Holy Cross coach Barry Wilson is in his seventh year with the Tigers. His club finished 10-3 last year, making it to the quarterfinals before falling to O.P. Walker, 20-14.

Senior quarterback Bryce Ellzey (5-10, 160), who played sparingly as a backup during his sophomore and junior year, gets the starting nod with junior running back Devin Smith (5-8, 185) joining him in the back field.

Coach Wilson said he only has one returning starter on the offense in senior lineman Colin Kitto (6-3, 220).

Wilson said the defense is the strength of his team, while the offense is still a work in progress.

The Tigers bring back five returning starters on defense led by senior free safety/cornerback Blake Toups (5-11, 180). Wilson said Toups is the guy who always matches up with their opponents top receiver. The other returning defensive starters include senior strong safety Vick Corso (6-0, 190), end/tackle Cody Decuir (5-10, 246), senior middle linebacker Bradley Brunet (5-10. 185) and senior tackle Chris Bommer (6-3, 230).