By Andrew Clay

Veterans Memorial Stadium played host to the 2013 Tri-County Spring Jamboree where local high school talent faced off in an unusual format to showcase some talent.

The exhibition games were four quarters with a 10-minute running clock, with no contact on special teams.

In the first game the Pike County Bulldogs took care of the Elba Tigers 14-2.

While the Tigers were content to punish Pike County with body blows, running it up the gut for a majority of the night, they were never able to make it into the end zone.

In stark contrast the highflying Bulldogs, scored twice through the air, while maintaining balance with the run game.

The Bulldog defense kept Elba off the board until second half. At the end of the third quarter Pike County stopped the Tigers on the one-inch line on fourth down to force a turnover. The Pike County offense took over with its back against the wall, and on the second play of the possession was stopped in its own end zone for a safety.

The fourth quarter was quiet as Pike County ran out the clock with its run game to end the first half of the Spring Jamboree double header.

“I’m proud of our guys for showing up tonight,” Pike County head coach Fred Holland said. “It was nice to come out and get the win. This game showed us what we are doing well and some things we need to work on moving forward.”

Ariton stole the show in the second game against the Goshen Eagles with 14-0 victory.

Goshen traded blows with the Purple Cats throughout the first quarter until turnovers changed the game. After driving 66 yard the Eagles fumbled, giving up a 99 yard scoop and score for the first points of the games. A fumble and interception later the half ended.

It was more of the same for Goshen in the second as Ariton wore down the Eagles, putting up a second touchdown late to seal the game.

“We are going through a lot of changes right now,” Goshen head coach Bart Snyder said. “We’ve had very few people that have played on both sides of the ball. One of the things we wanted to see tonight was what areas we need to work on and get people there.”