It is the final tune-up before the start of the football season, one week hence. Welcome to Week 0 on the schedule, filled with pre-season scrimmages.

The Illinois High School Association introduced scheduled scrimmages in 2024, which replaced many local team affairs. However, certain aspects of those public events, such as other fall team and cheerleader introductions, have been carried over even with another team in town for the scrimmage.

Under IHSA guidelines, each scrimmage consists of 48 offensive plays for each team. Each squad runs 12 plays on offense at a time, then switches to defense. There are no special team plays, and IHSA officials must be used.

Official scores and statistics aren’t kept, but coaches and fans can still catch a glimpse of the success of their team on a play-by-play basis. After three full weeks of practice, teams will still have some unanswered questions, which the scrimmage can help resolve.

So, there is still plenty on the line, even if it isn’t reflected on a scoreboard.

Here is the Week 0 scrimmage schedule:

FRIDAY
Mt. Carmel hosts Carmi, 6:30 p.m.
Lawrenceville at Red Hill, 7 p.m.
Marshall hosts Tri-County, 7 p.m.
Olney hosts Fairfield, 7 p.m.
Paris at Sullivan, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY
Newton hosts Cumberland, 9 a.m.
Robinson scrimmage (no opponent), 6 p.m.

Casey-Westfield (nothing scheduled)

All Times CST