This isn’t going to be a normal fall jamboree football game for the Straughn Tigers.

SHS will face Walter Wellborn Saturday night as a part of the 2013 Alabama High School Athletic Association Champions Challenge preseason football classic at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl.

Straughn was picked to play in the game last December based on its success in 2012. The Tigers finished 9-4 and in the Class 3A state semifinals. Walter Wellborn fell to defending Class 2A state champion, Tanner in the second round.

A big concern for SHS coach Trent Taylor right now is the Tigers’ special teams.

“We haven’t been able to give them the kind of reps we need to,” Taylor said. “Again, if this was a normal fall jamboree game we would play, I wouldn’t be real concerned with that. Because this is like a game, we’ve got to be ready in every area.”

With this being like a normal game with four 12-minute quarters and not the usual jamboree format, Taylor said that’s the biggest difference.

The Tigers have had a good fall practice in the lead up to Saturday’s game, only missing one day of field work because of the rain.

On Monday, Straughn got more than an hour of work in before the bottom fell out, Taylor said.

Especially with this game, Taylor said it’s a great opportunity for the players to compete in a game like this one.

“It’s not every day you get an opportunity to play in a game like this,” he said. “It’s big for our community. It’s big for our football team. It means a lot for our kids to be chosen and play in a game like this.

“It’s exacty that — it’s an honor. We want to perform well,” he said. “The truth of the matter is that when we pull off at the Cramton Bowl Saturday night, we’re 0-0. That’s the reality, but still, we want to compete and compete well. Our kids do, too.”

Walter Wellborn will have three returning skill players on its offensive side of the ball. The team from Anniston have a quarterback who was a full back last year; a running back; and an offensive lineman.

Taylor said facing a Wing-T offense can be tough on the defensive side of the ball, especially when they know the quarterback can run.

“They (ran the ball) last year as well,” the coach said.

Another factor that may well affect play is the turf at the Cramton Bowl.

When the summer sun hits the playing surface, the temperature can sky rocket, Taylor said.

“We haven’t had to deal with those sort of temperatures (this summer because of the rain),” he said. “That’s a concern for us as well. It’s going to be real interesting to see how we respond.”

Taylor said tickets to the game, which cost $10 each, are still available at the school. For the price of one ticket, those going will get the chance to watch two games. Enterprise and Bob Jones have the night cap after Straughn’s game.

Kick off for the Tigers is at 5 p.m.