High School Football Jamborees take center stage

Local high school football programs are making their final preparations for the season hosting
jamborees to sharpen and fine-tune their skills heading into next week's season openers.
The Covington High Fighting Lions host their jamboree beginning at 5 o'clock. The CHS
Jamboree opener pits Jerry Leonard's Salmen Spartans taking on the Class 2A defending state
champion John Curtis Patriots.
Game two features the Mandeville Skippers, the consecutive two-time state semifinalists,
coached by Guy LeCompte, squaring off with the always tough Franklinton Demons coached by Shane
Smith.
The finale, which is scheduled for 8 o'clock  tonight, has the host Fighting Lions, battling
the Bogalusa Lumberjacks. 
CHS first-year head coach Greg Salter said he liked what he saw in the Lions' scrimmage last
week at Parkview Baptist, competing against Parkview Baptist and Zachary.
"The kids played with a lot of intensity, which was good. Our players were aggressive and very
focused. The coaching staff was happy with the way that everything went," Salter said.
Lions' senior QB Dylan Savarese found Cordora Laurant for a 65-yard scoring play against
Parkview Baptist and C. J. Sims scored on a 57-yard run against Zachary.
The Slidell Tigers under first-year head coach Larry Favre, who returns to the sidelines after
a stint in administration as the St. Tammany Parish Athletic Director, said its fantastic
being back in coaching, working with exceptional young talent. 
Farve said his Tigers had a good outing last week scrimmaging the always tough Franklinton
Demons, a former Class 4A state champ.
"It was a great test for us. They are well coached and are a first class ball club. They have a lot of team speed and we went toe-to-toe with them. Our offense really moved the ball, while our defense bent, but didn't break," Favre said.
Farve said his team gave up a lot of yardage to the Demons, but were able to tighten up in the
red zone.
Favre said his club came out of the Franklinton scrimmage feeling really confident.
The Slidell Jamboree gets underway tonight with the Northshore Panthers taking on the Lakeshore
Titans. Panthers' coach Mike LaBourdette is the interim coach filling in for head coach Mike
Bourg.
We want to give coach Mike Bourg a shout out as he continues to recover from his recent heart
surgery. I spoke with him this morning, while he was doing his cardio rehab. I might add he
didn't sound too winded. I'm sure his players would be proud of him.
One of Bourg's former players, Josh Dakin, who is playing for the Southeastern Louisiana
University Lions, asked me to tell his former coach hello and to get well quickly.
Dakin, a sophomore, turned in a good night for the Lions in their 45-7 home opening victory
over Southeast Missouri.
Dakin, a solid special team's player, registered two solo stops and had two assists. Dakin also
broke up a pass.   
The host Tigers close things out in the Slidell Jamboree tonight at 8 o'clock, doing battle with
a speedy talented East Jefferson squad according to coach Favre.
In other jamboree action,
Archbishop Hannan's Hawks go against the Pearl River Rebels tonight at 6 o'clock, competing in
the Chalmette Jamboree.
Pope John Paul II is playing in the Newman Jamboree and takes on Cohen this afternoon at 5
o'clock.