All four area high school teams were scheduled to participate in their final scrimmages this weekend.

Starting next Friday, everything is for keeps.

Fuqua was scheduled to host Group AA Southside District member Bluestone on Thursday night at 7 p.m. The game was moved up a day to give both teams an extra day to prepare for their respective first counting games.

Fuqua will open up its 2010 football season next Friday night at home against Brunswick Academy.

“Hopefully, the scrimmage will be a good test for us heading into next week,” said FS head coach Skeeter Fore. “Brunswick Academy has been down for a couple of years, but they return almost everyone and their JV team won the league. They'll be much improved, and being a conference game, it will be a pivotal one for both teams.”

Prince Edward, which tied LCA 1-1 and Halifax 0-0 in just two 10-play scrimmage sets last week, will host Randolph-Henry on Friday night at 6 p.m.

Randolph-Henry scored twice in a home scrimmage against Fuqua, and held the Falcons scoreless in three sets of ten-plays last Friday night.

The Statesmen held an advantage over the Falcons along both lines, something that could give the Eagles problems this week, given the relative youth of the Prince Edward varsity team.

“One thing, we're looking to get in a full scrimmage,” said PECHS head coach Terrence Edmonds. “We weren't able to get that at EC Glass last Friday. We'll have to concentrate on keeping control of the football. Last week, fumbles were a problem, which further limited our number of plays.”

Cumberland will travel to Thomas Jefferson in Richmond on Saturday to take part in a jamboree that will include Greensville and perhaps another team.

Though the Dukes will be looking to play well on Saturday, the focus is on next week's season-opener against William Campbell.

Line play continues to be a focus for the Dukes.

“We've got to work on our defense, but we'll get there,” said CHS head coach Michael Sutton. “We've got some good size for us on the lines, but we've got to work on being physical – especially on our pass blocking. That will help our quarterback [Devonte Booker] to find a rhythm.

Booker did complete three touchdown passes in last week's jamboree at West Point that also included Goochland. In four sets of ten-plays against WPHS and Goochland, Cumberland scored three times and gave up five scores.

Buckingham will travel to the Riverheads Jamboree on Saturday to face Buffalo Gap and Riverheads at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Last week, Buckingham scrimmaged defending Group A, Division 1 champ Altavista. The Knights scored once, while giving up two scores.

“We made the mistakes you figure you're going to make at this point in the season,” said BCHS head coach Craig Gill. “So, I'm not discouraged. Altavista seemingly picked right back up where they left off last year. They could very well win another title. I think that was a good test for us, and they gave us some immediate feedback on things we need to work on.”

Buckingham's lone score came on a touchdown pass from Tarian Ayers to LA Briley. The combination of a young Buckingham line and Altavista's veteran defense hemmed-in BCHS standout tailback Maurice Taylor.