It doesn’t count toward power ratings or a district championship, but high school football jamborees can be vital to getting a team ready for the rigors of a 10-game season.

For a team like St. Louis Catholic, with four returning starters and a new head coach, the final rehearsal before the season is essential.

“We try to script practice to emulate games as much as possible to try to create a game-like environment,” St. Louis head coach Dustin Nothnagel said. “But there is no substitution for a crowd being there, for officials being out there, and just the excitement and build-up of having an opposite-color jersey to go against.

“You can try to simulate it as much as you can during practice, but there is nothing like real game experience, even for our older guys who are inexperienced. Stepping into that limelight, getting a chance to compete with somebody when it really matters is critical for their development. This week we are just looking to see some progress in the right direction and identifying strengths and weaknesses from last week and building on them.”

St. Louis is one of five area schools with new head coaches. The others are Washington-Marion (Dio Bernard), Oakdale (Kevin Bertrand), Basile (Dale Guillory) and Rosepine (Frank Rosegrant).

For Bernard, it is the next step in his mission to turn around a team that went 1-9 last year.

“I am trying to set my mark in the Lake Area to turn this program around and in the direction I want it to go,” Bernard said. “It is the little things from how we walk into the building and how we leave out.

“We got a big compliment last week at our scrimmage. We got a compliment from the principal at Northside on how we didn’t have any trash left on the sideline, all the kids said ‘Yes, sir.’ It is bringing the class back to this community and program.”

The Charging Indians will play Vinton at 5 p.m. Friday at the Sulphur Jamboree at Matt Walker Memorial Stadium, while St. Louis will face Welsh at 6 p.m.

Nothnagel said he has been impressed with senior placekicker Zachry Sugandi, who has connected from 49 and 53 yards in the preseason, plus running backs Tri Do and Mckylin Carrier.

“It is his first time getting real game experience,” Nothnagel said of Sugandi. “We knew he could kick, but kicking against competition with crowds being there, having to warm up while a team is out there scrimmaging, is obviously a challenge.

“He has reassured us that we will have a great kicker this year.”

Injuries have forced Bernard to make a few changes with Ashton Savoie and Dre Bernard playing on both sides of the ball. Kayden Harmon was moved to the offensive line after playing tight end last year.

“Last year (Savoie) played tight end, but now we have him moving around on the offensive side,” Bernard said. “He is starting on defense because one of the kids that was starting at the safety position ended up getting hurt.

“He ended up catching an interception in the scrimmage and dropped two. (Harmon) has been showing really good signs of physicality. He is one of the undersized linemen that I have, but he has the most fight. Several times in the scrimmage I had to tell him the whistle blew, the play is dead, stop blocking.”

Big matchups

DeRidder vs. Barbe: The second game tonight at Matt Walker Memorial Stadium has a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Barbe senior Eric Jones, (2,191 yards, 25 TDs in last two seasons) and DeRidder junior Reed Williams (1,246 yards, 21 TDs in 2023).

Jones has the luxury of following a more experienced line with four returning starters — Cooper Hughes, Jake Leger, Drew Nunez and Kamarii Smith — plus a returning quarterback in Jelandon Gray.

Iowa vs. Westlake: The opening game at tonight’s Sam Houston Jamboree in Moss Bluff will pit a pair of former district rivals against each other in Iowa and Westlake. Iowa moved up to Class 4A this year.

The Rams have a potent offense that includes sophomore quarterback Brody Anderson, junior running back Braylon Garrick and receiver Kevin Rideau, a Nicholls State commitment. Iowa returns six starters from a defense that helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the Nonselect Division II quarterfinals.

Sam Houston vs. Jennings: In the closing game tonight in Moss Bluff, the host Broncos’ senior-heavy defense will be tested by Jennings senior running back ReJohn Zeno, who ran for 1,884 yards and 21 touchdowns last year.

Jennings will have an equally tough time stopping the Broncos’ spread offense led by quarterback Gavin Stout, a two-time 2,000-yard passer, and their loaded receiver corps.