Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
At the 7th annual DJ Reader Football Jamboree snapped into action on Friday, August 14 at Grimsley High School’s Jamieson Stadium in Greensboro. Local high school teams played controlled preseason varsity and junior varsity scrimmages to kick off the 2026 unofficial football season. No official scores or winners were kept, as these opening-fall matchups focus on player evaluations.
The varsity teams that participated in this year’s jamboree were Asheboro vs Oak Grove; Grimsley vs Reagan; and Northeast Guilford vs Western Alamance. Junior varsity scrimmage teams were: Grimsley vs Reagan, Northeast Guilford vs Western Alamance; and Asheboro vs Oak Grove.
For the 2026 high school football season, upcoming regular-season openers are locked in following the scrimmage evaluations at the DJ Reader Football Jamboree. The participating teams as well as teams from across the state of N.C. will start week 1 of the 2026 Regular Football Season this Friday, August 21. Fans can catch each of the Jamboree’s featured teams making their official regular-season debuts.
Grimsley Whirlies: 7A State Champions will open the regular season with a massive road test at Southwest Guilford High School. The Whirlies have what many consider to be a “high-octane offensive unit replacing critical senior production from the previous season. Focus will perhaps rest on the Whirlies’ new starting quarterback’s (Grimsley sophomore Brody Lowe) chemistry with the receiving corps under varsity game.”
Oak Grove Grizzlies: Traveling to take on county rival Ledford High School in a highly anticipated local matchup. The Grizzlies will be relying heavily on an experienced, physical offensive line. Their strategy centers on establishing a dominant running game early in the county (Davidson) rivalry matchup.
Asheboro Blue Comets: Making their regular-season trip out to face Rockingham County High School. According to reports, the Blue Comets may be “prioritizing defensive adjustments. Coaching staff is focusing on fundamental tackling and minimizing explosive plays from the secondary during their road trip” to Rockingham.
Raleigh Reagan Raiders: Finalizing their game-week preparations to kick off their official 2026 campaign. The Raiders staff notes, “utilize a balanced spread offense. The coaching staff seeks consistent execution from their junior-heavy skill positions.”
Northeast Guilford Rams: The Rams will be by all reports, “off and running into their non-conference schedule layout.”
Western Alamance Warriors: Rounding out their lineup ahead of their official Week 1 kickoff. Western Alamance is “traditionally anchored by disciplined defensive fronts. Expect high blitz packages and heavy line-of-scrimmage pressure to disrupt opposing backfields.”
