High-school football fans will have a great chance to see their team in action tonight as four St. Tammany Parish squads take part in the Slidell Jamboree at SHS.

The games will feature a pair of 15-minute halves and the action starts at 6:30 p.m.

In the first contest, district rivals Salmen and Pearl River will do battle against each other.

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The Spartans are coming off a successful 10-3 season that ended in the semifinal round of the state playoffs, Pearl River also did well last year, going 7-3 and making it to the bi-district round of the postseason.

Salmen won last year’s regular season match up 18-13 and the Rebels took the jamboree 13-7.

Pearl River coach Joe Harris, who enters his ninth season as the Rebels’ headman, said the jamboree helps them continue preparation for the regular year.

“It’s another week to get ready for the season,” Harris said. “Hopefully we can get better from it.”

Harris said the starters will play and he’ll try to get the backups some work.

Offensively, Pearl River runs the wing-T offense. The running backs are seniors James Gillum, Jeremiah Levy and Kendall Twillie.

Last season, Gillum was a first-team all-district player for the second time, while Levy was a second-team running back and Twillie was an all-district honorable mention.

Defensively, Salmen runs an aggressive 3-4 style.

In last Thursday’s scrimmage against Destrehan, the unit, which returns 10 starters, gave up some big plays, but also came up with some themselves.

Jaron Adams made three interceptions. During the 15-minute period of running time, George Williams, who does most of his work at wide receiver, came up with an interception return for about 50 yards.

The defensive line includes first-team all-district players Isame Faciane and Malcolm Pichon along with second-teamer T.J. Price.

Last year, the Spartans allowed just 170 points in 13 games (13 points per game). They recorded two shutouts over district foes East Jefferson and Riverdale. Salmen nearly had a third shutout in a 34-2 victory over the Bossier Bearkats in the bi-district round of the playoffs.

Offensively, Salmen operates out of the spread.

In the jamboree, junior quarterbacks Daniel Sams and Matt Lipham both took snaps for the Spartans.

Last season, Sams threw for 731 yards and nine touchdowns, while rushing for 610 yards and 10 scores.

The signal callers’ weapons are Williams, James Foucha, Jamal Robinson and Ryan D’Alton.

Williams was a second-team all-district player last year.

Defensively, Pearl River runs the odd stack.

Last season, the Rebels defense gave up 145 points in 10 games.

This year’s group has just three returning starters, all seniors, including safeties Twillie and Craig Domingue along with Blake Ladner. Coach Harris said Ladner is stepping up and playing hard everyday in practice.

These two teams will for real in the final regular season game Nov. 6 at Pearl River.

In the second game, the Slidell Tigers take on the Northshore Panthers. The flu has been hitting SHS pretty hard, so the Slidell could be without a few starters.

Last year’s regular season match up went to NHS 29-26. Northshore also won the jamboree game 16-12.

NHS finished last season at 8-2, while Slidell went 5-5. Both teams went to the playoffs. Northshore lost to St. Thomas More 34-12, but found out in March that St. Thomas More forfeited the game for using an ineligible player.

Northshore coach Mike Bourg enters his fourth year at the helm of the Panthers. He said they’re looking forward to the season.

“I think we’re ready and we’re going against a good team in Slidell to help us get ready,” Bourg said.

Slidell was eliminated in the bi-district round in a 24-20 loss to Mandeville.

The Panthers run the spread offense, led by senior quarterback Jervious Epherson, who enters his third-year of starting. Last year, he threw for 2,000 and ran for 792.

Northshore’s main wide outs include seniors Adam Chopin, Chase Compton and Trevor Harrison and Calvin Livas.

The Panthers have three running backs they can count on in juniors Patrick Johnson and Denzel Acker along with sophomore Jared Faciane.

Defensively, Slidell is multiple.

In last week’s scrimmage, the Tigers were aggressive. During the 15-minute period, which SHS won 12-0, the group allowed Parkview Baptist to drive 65 yards down to the five-yard line on the opening possession, but held the Eagles on fourth-and-goal.

After that, the unit was opportunistic, forcing and recovering a pair of fumbles.

Offensively, Slidell runs the spread with senior first-year starter Randal Meyer calling signals.

During the scrimmage last week, Meyer completed two touchdown passes for more than 90 yards. He hit senior wide out Armand Williams, a first-team all-district player last year for a 98-yarder and in the 15-minute period, he hooked up with C.J. Hampton on short pass, but Hampton took it the rest of the way on a 95-yard scoring play. Also, Meyer and Derrick Comeaux clicked for a 72-yard TD pass.

The running back is senior Jaron Wiggins.

Defensively, Northshore bases out of the 4-3.

Senior linebacker Taylor Eads returns to the lineup, but on the strong side this season after playing middle linebacker in 2008. Last year, he was in on 50 stops and was a second-team all-district player.

Alex Black is the middle linebacker and Keith Sanchez handles the weak side duties. The safeties are seniors Dewayne Joseph and Quin Johnson. The corners are J.R. Vappie and Tilton England.

These teams will meet in the regular season finale Nov. 6 at SHS.

If you are planning on attending, admission is $7 for everybody.