For the first time in several years, Blacksburg will not play in Week Zero and has another week to get ready for its season opener against McBee.

Tonight’s activity is a two hour road trip to play Swansea in the Wildcat Jamboree in Lexington. The 6 p.m. preseason game will take place at Lexington High School off Exit 50 on I-20.

Swansea is

Swansea is starting its first season under new coach Chad Leaphart. In his 10-year tenure at Strom Thurmond, he guided the football program to five region championships and the Class 3A state championship in 2005.

Blacksburg went 3-7 this past season and are seeking their first winning season since 2002. The Wildcats are coming off a 27-0 win over McCormick in last week’s Iron City Jamboree.

All-Region defensive back Chase Hames had an 88-yard fumble return as an aggressive Blacksburg defense twice stopped potential McCormick scoring drives inside the 15-yard line.

Hames had touchdown runs of 22- and 2-yards while sharing the running load with tailback Raymond Ellis. Ellis scored on a 13-yard run in the scrimmage.

While Blacksburg likes to run the ball, Swansea will test the Blacksburg pass defense at tonight’s jamboree.

“Swansea runs the spread offense and will throw the football a lot. They run a 4-3 defense. This is about all we know about them,” Blacksburg head coach Mickey Moss said. “I just hope we play hard. We still have a lot of questions to answer before the season starts.”

Blacksburg is still mixing and matching different players on offense, defense and special teams to find the right lineup for its Aug. 27 home opener against McBee. The Wildcats are looking for a punter to replace graduated All-Region punter Josh Batton, who averaged 37.8 yards a punt last season.

Blacksburg’s appearance in the Wildcat Jamboree has another benefit. The two hour road trip to Lexington will give players travel experience entering a schedule that includes four straight road games.

Blacksburg will travel three hours to play Latta outside Florence for the third game of the season. Latta was the only opponent with an open date when Blacksburg was putting together its 2010 schedule.

Moss said he is concerned right now with getting his team ready for its first game against McBee.

“McBee has a good football team,” Moss said. “We will need a really good week of practice before we play McBee.”

GAME AT A

GLANCE

WILDCATS (0-0) VS. SWANSEA (0-0)

Kickoff at 6 p.m. at Lexington High

Stadium.

Players to Watch: Blacksburg QB Treyvon Parker, RB Chase Hames, LB Nick Hames, LB Lennal Dasher, RB Raymond Ellis.

The Wildcats will win - if they limit their turnovers and sustain long drives to keep the Swansea offense off the field.

The Tigers will win - If they avoid costly turnovers and build an early lead to force the Wildcats to abandon their run-oriented offense.