High School football teams begin pre-season scrimmages this week
Area high school football teams have now kicked preparations for the 2023 season into high gear.
And the preseason steps up a notch later this week as local teams have announced their respective scrimmage schedules.
Anderson County, which went 15-0 on its way to claiming its first Class 4A State Championship in 2022, will have three preseason scrimmages, and all will be at home.
The Mavericks will play Bradley Central Friday at 6 p.m.
ACHS will then play Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett on Aug. 1 at 6 p.m.
The Mavs will have their final scrimmage on Aug. 4 against McMinn County at 6 p.m.
The Indians, Bears and McMinn County all made it to the playoffs last year.
Clinton, which went 5-5 last season, will host a three-way scrimmage against Hardin Valley Academy and Christian Academy of Knoxville on Friday at 7 p.m.
The Hardin Valley Hawks went 1-9 last season.
The Warriors have a new head coach in 2022 as Chad Speck takes the reins at CAK.
Oak Ridge, meanwhile, has a new head coach in Derek Rang.
The Wildcats host Fulton at Blankenship Field Friday at 6 p.m.
ORHS will travel to Maryville on Aug. 4 at 5:30 p.m.
The Falcons and the Rebels each made the playoffs last season while the Wildcats went 7-6 and advanced to the quarterfinals in Class 5A in the postseason.