Patriots will play in jamboree Friday

The first week of practice revealed a lot to coach Jake Hill about his football team, and this week’s jamboree will show him more.

“We’re on track, but we still have a long way to go,” said Hill, who begins his first season as head coach of the Marshall Academy Patriots. “I was very pleased with our week.”

Putting in new offensive schemes garnered attention in the mornings and then defense and special teams in the evenings during the two-a-day sessions.

“We got a ton of stuff covered,” Hill said, “and this week we will be fine-tuning. We will be repping the proper way of doing things and continuing to learn.”

The team is about 25 members strong with hopes of getting up to the 30 range.

This Friday night, Aug. 7, the Patriots will go to Clarksdale and participate in the Lee Academy Jamboree. They will face Indianola Academy at 6 p.m. And Kirk Academy at 7:30 p.m. In 20-minute contests with a running clock.

“It’s always good to participate in a jamboree,” Hill said. “You’re able to go against someone else, which is completely different and better than going against each other in practice. I’m glad we are going to have the jamboree, the game-type situations, before we go play Starkville.”

Marshall kicks off the 2026 season on Friday night, Aug. 21, with a trip to Starkville Academy.

Hill is assisted by his father, Johnny Hill, his uncle, Keith Owens, and Wesley Harris and Yancy Odom.

“I’m so blessed to have my dad and my uncle with me,” he said. “I just love my staff, with Coach Harris and Coach Odom out there, too; I am so glad they are with us. Practice is not boring, that’s for sure.”