Tigers open with jamboree this week.

Wednesday, August 27, 2003

Mountain Home fans will get a sneak preview of the 2003 Mountain Home Tiger football team Saturday at Tiger Field, when the Tigers host a Youth Endowment for Activities Football Jamboree.

Boise, Skyview and Mountain Home take turns going on offense and defense against each other.

There also will be junior varsity jamboree action as well.

Second-year Tiger football coach Tony Kerfoot indicated he has approximately 28 players out for the varsity squad, with just a few of them returning from last year.

"When you have about 28 kids on a team and you lose 21 of them (from last year), that's significant, but I think we've got a few key people, and it does give us a pretty good nucleus to build around.

"Some of them, too, are kids that didn't get to play much last year, but did practice and they've developed, and I think they're ready to go this year and step in and fill some shoes."

Last year, Mountain Home finished 8-2, winning the SIC 4A crown, but losing to Sandpoint in the first round of the playoffs.

Kerfoot hopes this year's squad can build off last year's success, but gone are 19 seniors and two other players that did not come out this year, so success definitely will not come without work.

"That (last year's success) is kind of a springboard. I think one thing we want to be real cautious of is that they don't rest on the laurels of last year's team, and expect for that to naturally happen again this year. They're going to have to work and improve the same way that last year's team did, as the season progresses."

After Saturday's Jamboree, Mountain Home opens against three straight 5A teams, hosting Twin Falls in their opener on Sept. 5, then play at Bronco Stadium in a couple back-to-back Thursday night games (Sept. 11 and 18) against Timberline and Boise.

"They're going to kind of be key games to start our season," said Kerfoot.

"Hopefully, those are going to be games we compete very well in, and hopefully, give ourselves a chance to win.

"Twin Falls is supposed to be pretty good, and Timberline is going to be even better than they were last year, and that was a three-overtime game, so we've got some tough tests right up front. "

Saturday's Jamboree starts at 9 a.m. at Tiger Field. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, with proceeds going to the Youth Endowment for Activities Fund.