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With just two weeks left before the season opener on Aug. 18, the George Rogers Clark High School’s football team saw a pair of opponents on Saturday night at Cardinal Stadium.

The junior varsity and varsity squad competed in a scrimmage-like setting against teams from Johnson Central High School and Madison Southern High School.

“The first scrimmage is always sorting out a lot of different things, but [we want to] see guys move and play hard,” said Cardinals’ head coach Joe Chirico. “We just get guys on film, young guys [and] old guys. It’s pretty standard.”

The upcoming season will see the Cards take on some high-ranking schools across the state, including defending Class 5A champion Frederick Douglass and Class 6A semifinalist Bryan Station.

With the team looking to be open to tough competition, the Johnson Central Golden Eagles came to town following a 2022 quarterfinal finish in the Class 4A playoffs and a 2019 state championship and 2021 runner-up finish.

The Madison Southern Eagles, eliminated in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs during the last two seasons, saw quarterfinal finishes in 2019 and 2020.

During the event, which was full-contact and involved tackling, the football was set up at the 45-yard line, with each team’s offense and defense seeing ten plays at a time before rotating.

While receivers and running backs attempted to either run or receive the ball via a pass from the quarterback, other offensive players – namely linemen – tried to block defenders who in turn looked to keep them from reaching the end zone.

All levels of talent participated.

“We just want to make sure they [get] their assignments down. We’re looking for toughness [and] flying to the ball”, said John Flynn, GRC’s head freshman and junior varsity coach. “We told them before the game, ‘If you make a mistake, make it going full speed.’”

One of many players making a full-speed effort was junior Mahni John.

The wide receiver, who also returned an interception 76 yards for a defensive touchdown in last year’s narrow playoff loss against Tates Creek, took a pass and raced approximately 40 yards for a touchdown.

“I was really hoping my linemen got out [and] kicked all the guys out for me, which they did a great job [of],” John said. “I see myself as a leader because I’ve been there before.”

Coach Jordan Ray, the Cards’ offensive coordinator, mentioned that the event was talked about as early as January.

He also mentioned that, as summer turns to fall, there’s much to be excited about on the gridiron.

“The excitement’s always there. It’s football time in Clark County,” Ray said. “Everybody in Clark County should be excited for this. These kids put in work 365 days a year they deserve all the support in the world.”

With just two weeks left before the season opener on Aug. 18, the George Rogers Clark High School’s football team saw a pair of opponents on Saturday night at Cardinal Stadium.

The junior varsity and varsity squad competed in a scrimmage-like setting against teams from Johnson Central High School and Madison Southern High School.

“The first scrimmage is always sorting out a lot of different things, but [we want to] see guys move and play hard,” said Cardinals’ head coach Joe Chirico. “We just get guys on film, young guys [and] old guys. It’s pretty standard.”

The upcoming season will see the Cards take on some high-ranking schools across the state, including defending Class 5A champion Frederick Douglass and Class 6A semifinalist Bryan Station.

With the team looking to be open to tough competition, the Johnson Central Golden Eagles came to town following a 2022 quarterfinal finish in the Class 4A playoffs and a 2019 state championship and 2021 runner-up finish.

The Madison Southern Eagles, eliminated in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs during the last two seasons, saw quarterfinal finishes in 2019 and 2020.

During the event, which was full-contact and involved tackling, the football was set up at the 45-yard line, with each team’s offense and defense seeing ten plays at a time before rotating.

While receivers and running backs attempted to either run or receive the ball via a pass from the quarterback, other offensive players – namely linemen – tried to block defenders who in turn looked to keep them from reaching the end zone.

All levels of talent participated.

“We just want to make sure they [get] their assignments down. We’re looking for toughness [and] flying to the ball”, said John Flynn, GRC’s head freshman and junior varsity coach. “We told them before the game, ‘If you make a mistake, make it going full speed.’”

One of many players making a full-speed effort was junior Mahni John.

The wide receiver, who also returned an interception 76 yards for a defensive touchdown in last year’s narrow playoff loss against Tates Creek, took a pass and raced approximately 40 yards for a touchdown.

“I was really hoping my linemen got out [and] kicked all the guys out for me, which they did a great job [of],” John said. “I see myself as a leader because I’ve been there before.”

Coach Jordan Ray, the Cards’ offensive coordinator, mentioned that the event was talked about as early as January.

He also mentioned that, as summer turns to fall, there’s much to be excited about on the gridiron.

“The excitement’s always there. It’s football time in Clark County,” Ray said. “Everybody in Clark County should be excited for this. These kids put in work 365 days a year they deserve all the support in the world.”