High school football action returns to Ethel Friday, Aug. 21, as the Tigers host a multi-team preseason jamboree to close out their summer preparations.
The exhibition event will give local fans their first look at the 2026 Ethel Tigers in live action before the regular season official kickoff Aug. 28.
The jamboree features a double-header schedule, bringing together regional rivals for a night of scrimmage action on the hill:
Jamboree Schedule (August 21)
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6:00 PM: Nanih Waiya vs. Pisgah
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Follow-up Game: Ethel vs. Smithville
For Ethel, the exhibition game against Smithville provides a final dress rehearsal to evaluate depth, test execution on both sides of the ball, and get crucial live snaps for newly promoted starting quarterback Taylon May and key returning contributors like thousand-yard rusher Zantavious Clark.
Coach Junior Graham noted that the jamboree provides an important baseline for his squad coming off an intensive summer conditioning program.
Following the scrimmage, the Tigers will turn their focus directly to their regular-season opener against J.Z. George.
