THE PANTHERS have been practicing hard getting ready for Saturday’s scrimmage against Bethel, Novato and Vintage.

After a couple of weeks of practice, Benicia High’s varsity and junior varsity football teams will get a chance to square off against some real opponents Saturday night when the Panthers host Bethel, Vintage and Novato high schools in a four-school scrimmage at Drolette Stadium.

The varsity Panthers are coming off a 7-5 season and their first Solano County Athletic Conference championship since 2009. Vintage and Novato went a combined 13-9 last year while Bethel finished 5-5 overall, tied for third place in the SCAC.

“It gives everybody a chance for some playing time so we can get on the same page,” said Benicia varsity football coach Craig Holden. “It’ll be nice to go up against some other teams instead of practicing against ourselves. We’ll see what the kids can do. We just want to get out of there healthy.”

The JV scrimmage begins at 5 p.m., with the varsity squads taking the field at 7 p.m.

Benicia officially opens the season at home Friday, Aug. 28 against the Concord Minutemen. Benicia’s varsity lost at Concord, 48-13, in last year’s season opener.

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