TOPEKA (KSNT) — High school football is officially back in Topeka.
Topeka High School, Holton, Hayden Catholic and Washburn Rural took the field Friday night at Hummer Sports Park for its annual preseason high school football jamboree.
The event gives teams an opportunity to get live competition before the regular season begins, while coaches evaluate players and see how their teams respond in a game-like setting. Topeka High principal Dustin Dick said the jamboree gives players a chance to compete against teams they normally wouldn’t see during the regular season.
“It’s just a good way to break in the start of the season and get the kids a chance to, you know, hit somebody and do something to get somebody that they haven’t been doing in practice for the last couple of weeks,” he said.
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The jamboree also brought fans, cheerleaders and student sections to the stands, creating an early taste of a Friday night football atmosphere. For Topeka West football head coach Trey Parker, his team started slow but adjusted as the night went on.
“We started a little slow, but, I mean, our kids adapted, they adjusted and I feel like they’re going well now,” Parker said.
Parker said his players have put in work throughout the offseason and believes the team is continuing to improve.
“We’re getting better day by day, and you’ll be surprised at what we put on the field this year,” he said.
The jamboree is part of the final preparation for teams before the start of the regular season. Regular-season high school football begins next week.
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