Sione Otuafi, right, takes part in football practice last week. The Greenwave hosts a scrimmage Friday night against Lassen and then opens the season next week against Spring Creek.
The Lahontan Valley is going to be hopping with non-stop football this weekend.
The Greenwave football team hosts a scrimmage with Lassen on Friday followed by the Sierra Youth Football League Experience, an all-day scrimmage event, on Saturday – both at the Edward Arciniega Athletic Complex.
Coming off a second-round exit in last year’s playoffs, Fallon returns the majority of its playmakers as it begins the quest for the state championship. The season opens on Aug. 24 when Spring Creek, which knocked out Fallon in last year’s playoffs, comes to Fallon.
On the next day, one of the biggest football events in the region will invade Fallon.
The annual scrimmage and weigh-in event where more than 7,000 players, coaches and families will flock to the valley for the third year in a row as games begin the following week.
Teams from Carson Valley, Reno, Damonte Ranch, Manogue, Hug, McQueen, North Valleys, Wooster, Galena, Spanish Springs, Sparks, Reed, Lassen, Fernley, Dayton and Fallon converge. Vendors and sponsors will be on display in addition to several bounce houses for the families. Weigh-ins begin at 7 a.m. and scrimmages will start at 9 a.m.
The SYFL advises families and spectators to arrive early for the event due to high traffic volume. Fallon’s SYFL division, also known as Fallon Youth Football League, is working with the local high school, city government and law enforcement to ensure smooth coordination. Entrance and parking to the all-day event are off Sheckler Cutoff, south of the high school campus.
The SYFL is a youth tackle football and cheerleading organization for all children between the ages of 5 and 14, prior to any child moving into high school.
The SYFL works closely high school athletic directors and coaches to ensure players are learning skills that will benefit them as they transition into high school sports.
The SYFL divisions, which are based on age, include Bandit (kindergarten and first grade), Maverick (second and third grades), Renegade (fourth grade), Freshman (fifth grade), Junior Varsity (sixth grade), Varsity (seventh grade) and Collegiate (eighth grade).
The regular season begins on Aug. 25 and runs through October before playoffs take over.
The championship games will be on Nov. 10. The SYFL Winter Classic – a series of all-star games – is on Dec. 1. All games are played on Saturdays on high school fields.