CAIRO — The 2017 edition of Cairo’s football team will soon find out what it’s made of.

The Syrupmakers will play their annual red and black intersquad scrimmage game at West Thomas Stadium tonight at 7:30 p.m., with a large number of young, untested players looking to make their mark ahead of an even greater challenge.

“We’re just looking to get out there and compete,” Cairo head coach Steve DeVoursney said. “Make sure they know how to line up, make sure they know how to block and who they’re tackling. That’s the big thing, making sure we’re sharp on and off the field, just practicing before we do it for real next week.”

That real test will be against defending 6A state champion Valdosta. The Wildcats will be making the trip to Cairo on August 11 for a scrimmage. Last season, the Syrupmakers and their cast of seniors were able to tie them, but doing the same thing this year will be a very tall order.

“The guys that have started for us for the last couple years are head and shoulders better than everyone else right now,” DeVoursney said. “We’ve got some young guys doing some good things that are trying to come onto the field.” 

While most of the team is filled with fresh newcomers, one returning Syrupmaker from last year received some accolades this week. Offensive lineman Riley Maynard was voted as a preseason all-state selection for Class 4A by Recruit Georgia. 

Maynard will be one of two returning offensive linemen for Cairo. His unit will protect quarterback Jackson Hand, a senior who will get his first reps as a starter this season.

The defense will have even more experience to gain tonight, with only Tahj Vicks and Jamel Chin returning from last year.

“They’ve just got to grow up,” DeVoursney said. “We do have some young kids that are gonna be good. Whether they’re gonna be ready this year or next year, we don’t know. We’re going to try to keep getting them better and maybe before the season’s over they’ll be able to play.

“Next Friday when we play a real scrimmage, we’ll have a lot of kids that have never started before play. Hopefully they’re ready.”