The high school football season kicks off Aug. 24, but game-like scrimmages with referees Saturday will offer a glimpse of what to expect.

A closer look:

• Lincoln hosts playoff regulars Nevada Union, Antelope and Vista del Lago at 8:30 a.m. NU includes Boise State linebacker commit Tanner Vallejo.

• Traditional passing programs and title contenders Oak Ridge and Colfax meet in El Dorado Hills at 8:30 a.m. Quarterback Jason Samuels returns for Oak Ridge, while Colfax is in the midst of a quarterback competition.

• Burbank hosts Pleasant Grove at 9 a.m., both fielding perhaps their fastest teams. Burbank has 1,000-yard rushers Isaiah Williams and Keith Marcus returning, and Pleasant Grove counters with versatile backs Brandon Lewis, Tyree Hanson and Isaiah Saunders.

• Grant, seeking its Sac-Joaquin Section-leading 22nd consecutive playoff berth, hosts Sacramento, Whitney and Chavez of Stockton in a jamboree that starts at 9 a.m. The Pacers feature recruit Trayvon Henderson, a receiver, safety and punter, and linebackers Moses Moala, Tui Lopa and Abnor Toma.

• Inderkum hosts Casa Roble at 9 a.m. in a meeting of two of the section's top Division III programs the past decade. Inderkum returns running backs Josh Montes and Eric Walters, and Casa Roble returns 1,500-yard rusher Kody Jones.

• Defending Division I champion Granite Bay and linebacker Beau Hershberger welcome new Bella Vista coach Tom Ingles to the region at 10 a.m.

• Cosumnes Oaks, led by rising recruit lineman Sam Smith, hosts Rio Linda and leading rusher Lamar Bible at 7 p.m.

• Del Oro, the two-time defending D-III section champion, hosts Elk Grove, coming off a 12-1 season, at 7 p.m. Del Oro is led by running back Brandon Monroe, who gave his verbal commitment to play for San Jose State on Monday night. Elk Grove running back Robert Frazier is also fielding recruiting interest.

• Folsom, seeking a third consecutive trip to the D-II section final, hosts Laguna Creek, which welcomes the return of coach Dave Morton, at 7:30 p.m. Morton started the Laguna program in the early 1990s.

Charity bowling – Former Elk Grove and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Adrian Ross is hosting the Strikes 4 Kids Celebrity Bowling Tournament at 5 p.m. Aug. 25 at Strikes Unlimited in Rocklin. The event unites local businesses, families, community members and media personalities to help raise awareness and funds for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. For information: www.strikes4kids.org.

Coaches brunch – High school coaches are invited to attend the annual National Football Foundation High School Kick Off Brunch at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the Carmichael Elks Lodge. The Bee and MaxPreps are co-sponsors in a meet-and-greet session to preview the season. For more information, contact Jim Jorgensen at (916) 624-4243 or jim.jorgensen@wavecable.com.

Call to coaches – Coaches are encouraged to return preseason questionnaires emailed by The Bee. Coaches also can create information sheets listing team strengths and top players with comments and email them to jdavidson@sacbee.com.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect date for a charity bowling event in Rocklin. The event will be at 5 p.m. Aug. 25 at Strikes Unlimited. In addition, the time for Granite Bay-Bella Vista has been updated due to a scheduling change.

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