The local high school football teams within the Fort Mill School District will be participating in two jamborees to jump start the 2022 football season.

Both Catawba Ridge and Nation Ford will be participating in the third annual Gus Allen Memorial Jamboree at Nation Ford. The jamboree had been known as the Battle at the Ford Jamboree, but was renamed this year in honor of the late Fort Mill High head football coach Gus Allen. Gus Allen is the father of Nation Ford head football coach Michael Allen.

The idea to rename the jamboree in honor of Allen was brought by members of the football coaching staff and Falcons’ athletic director Jaybe Shackleford.

“They presented the idea to me,” said Michael Allen. “For me it’s a delicate area. I thought it was a nice gesture. It is a good way to recognize a man who gave so much to the community. I embraced it.”

The event will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12 with Piedmont and Charlotte Christian starting things off, followed by Berry Academy and Marvin Ridge at 6:30 p.m. Catawba Ridge will play Cuthbertson at 7:30 p.m. and Nation Ford will play Porter Ridge at 8:30 p.m.

Gates will open at 6 p.m. and tickets can be purchased on the GoFan app.

Fort Mill will be heading to York to participate in the first ever Bill Pate White Rose Football Classic at York Comprehensive High the same day.

The Jackets will be playing Laurens at 6 p.m. to open the event, which also features Providence vs. Blythewood at 7 p.m., Clover vs. Providence Day at 8 p.m., and Clinton vs. York at 9 p.m.

“Coach Pate touched so many lives,” said York head football coach Dean Boyd. “It is a great way to honor coach Pate. We want to make this the best jamboree in the state.”

The event rings a little special to Fort Mill since athletic director Dwayne Hartsoe was coached by Pate. Hartsoe also coached with Pate. Hartsoe said Pate gave him his first coaching job.

“He was a very special man to me,” Hartsoe said. “He is a legend.”

Fort Mill head football coach Rob McNeely said he was excited about participating in the first ever football classic at York.

“It is going to be a great event,” he said. “Coach Pate left a big mark on a lot of people’s lives. He was a big part of a coaches influence on a person.”

Fans can use the GoFan app to purchase tickets for the event.

Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep