Prep Notebook: Wayne's Pioneer Field gets polish

WAYNE -- Winning is certainly nothing new for the Wayne Pioneers' football program.

The team has averaged 10 wins per season over the last decade and in just 11 seasons, coach Tom Harmon has matched Scott Jarrell as the school's all-time leader in coaching victories with 102.

The home atmosphere at Wayne has been part of the reason for the success. Grills are smoking on game days out in the school's parking lot by 5:30 p.m. with burgers and hot dogs and at 6:30 p.m., if you aren't in the bleachers, chances are you aren't going to be.

On Aug. 29, when fans start piling into Pioneer Field prior to the start of the 2008 season opener against Chesapeake, they will be able to admire several changes made over the summer.

Pioneer Field now features a new scoreboard, new lights and permanent end zone seating for the band. All are upgrades that were needed, and they all add exciting elements for all Wayne supporters.

Well, except for Wayne coach Tom Harmon, whose excitement is a little reserved.

"New scoreboards, new lights and green grass don't necessarily make for a good football team," Harmon said. "It's going to be a matter of getting the opponents to cooperate. They tend not to cooperate. To say any Friday will be a forgone conclusion, we're just going to have to wait and see."

Even with Harmon's subdued excitement, the changes will add even more to a Friday night experience that was widely-considered as one of the best in the area.

It's just a little more meaning to Friday Night Lights for the Pioneers this fall.

MSAC PREVIEW: Mountain State Athletic Conference football teams play preview scrimmages Friday and Saturday at Laidley Field in Charleston.

Huntington High plays at 7 p.m. Friday against Ripley and 8 p.m. Friday against Capital.

Lincoln County plays at 9 a.m. Saturday against South Charleston and at 11 a.m. Saturday against St. Albans.

Spring Valley has scrimmages at noon Saturday against Princeton and 1 p.m. Saturday against Parkersburg.

Cabell Midland and Hurricane meet at 6 p.m. Saturday. Cabell Midland also faces George Washington at 7 p.m. Saturday. Hurricane takes on George Washington at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Daily admission is $7 for adults and $6 for students

EKC GRID-O-RAMA: The Eastern Kentucky Conference's preseason Grid-O-Rama is Friday at Raceland High School and Saturday at Rowan County High School.

On the first day, West Carter and Fairview will open up play at 6:30 p.m. while Raceland and Morgan County will meet at 8 p.m.

Saturday's action starts with Fleming County and East Carter battling at 5:30 p.m. Nicholas County and Lewis County follow at 7 p.m. while the host Vikings take on Bath County at 8:30 p.m.

Each scrimmage consists of a regulation half before teams take a five-minute halftime. After the break, teams take part in one 12-minute final quarter. Admission to each day is $5.

Freelance writer Ryan Epling contributed to this report.