Patriots back at old stadium for 4-team preseason jamboree
The Palestine-Wheatley Patriots were not able to host the 2022 preseason varsity jamboree games on their newly constructed Patriot Stadium, due to the recent theft of all the copper wiring that had already been installed, P-W did hold the jamboree games at the old Patriot Stadium Monday, which was all right with the teams and the fans.
Joining the Patriots for the preseason jamboree, which began with tailgate party and a Meet the Patriots get together prior to the playing of the jamboree games, were Barton, Marianna Lee and Cross County. The same four teams will return tonight for the preseason junior high jamboree event.
Each team, in the formatted jamboree, ran 11 plays each round for a total of 33 plays. The football was moved to different hash mark every play, with the offensive plays beginning at the 35-yard line, the 15, the five and the three-yard line, using fourto-eight-minute running clock quarters.
Palestine-Wheatley opened the jamboree taking on Marianna Lee before going against Cross County and
Barton.
As of press time, there were no final scores from the jamboree games.
Following tonight's junior high jamboree, the Patriots will officially open the 2022 season on Thursday, August 25, when the Junior Patriots travel to Carlisle. The varsity Patriots will host Carlisle on Friday, August 26 for their home opener.
Former Palestine-Wheatley head football coach Terry Farmer returned for a second stint at the school after coaching the Patriots for five seasons, from 2000 to 2004. He is being assisted this season by Steve Sherland, Mark Main, Derrick Boileau and Eric Boileau.
The varsity Patriots will play five away games and five home games this season from the 3A-3 conference and have been picked by Hooten's Arkansas Football magazine to finish last in the conference behind Hoxie, Osceola, Walnut Ridge, Manila, Corning and Piggott.
The Patriots are coming off an 0-9 season from a year ago under then interim head coach Paxton Crawford.