Two of the county’s high school football teams are in game-week preparation as spring practice winds to a close.

Pike County and Goshen make up half of a four team-jamboree game that will take place on Thursday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy.

Pike County will take on perennial 2A powerhouse Elba, while Goshen will meet Ariton.

The Bulldogs improved in 2012 under the leadership of head coach Fred Holland, and scored wins over Goshen, Montgomery Catholic and an upset victory over Luverne.

Pike County opened spring practice last week with lots of youth, something Holland and staff have been working on.

“We have a lot of young guys, and want to bring them along slow and let them get their feet under them,” said Holland. “We are doing a lot of teaching during the spring in order to hit the ground running in the summer and in to the fall.”

Goshen enters the fifth year of the Bart Snyder era, and has seen a run of success unlike any other in school history.

The Eagles have made the AHSAA playoffs every year of Snyder’s tenure, and 2013 could bring more of the same.

Goshen reeled off four consecutive wins to close the season and make the playoffs last year.

Snyder has used spring practice as an opportunity to get younger players work.

“We want to get as many kids reps as we can,” said Snyder. “You need to find out who you can count on now, instead of September. Guys who are here now, will be ready in August.”

The jamboree game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff from Larry Blakeney Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy on Thursday.