Since the City Football Jamboree’s inception in 1948, one St. Joseph team concluded the event with year-long bragging rights.

Not this year — at least not officially.

While all four 11-man schools will take part in the event for the first time since 1986, the revamped preseason format will not determine an outright champion. No official scores will be kept.

“The fans will know who wins,” Benton senior defensive back/wide receiver Chris Michaels said. “When they walk out, they’re gonna know who scored touchdowns, who didn’t; who moved the ball, who didn’t.”

The long-running event traditionally took place during Week 1 of the regular season. But city officals decided to move it to the preseason this past spring, forcing the event to be played under Missouri State High School Activities Association jamboree guidelines.

The event’s tradition and competitive plot lines remain unchanged.

Benton claimed the past four titles in a three-team field that also included Lafayette and Bishop LeBlond. Central, meanwhile, rejoins the event for the first time since 2003 — when the Indians’ Suburban League slate forced them to forego the jamboree.

Prior to leaving, Central had won eight of the previous nine titles — dating back to 1995.

“These kids in the program now have never played in a jamboree. They don’t understand the magnitude of it, I don’t think,” said Central offensive coordinator Jeff Wallace, who played quarterback for the Indians in as a senior in 1985.

“I’m a former Indian and held that high standard. Now it’s their turn.”

But preseason tenets will still apply, offering coaches another chance to evalute players and fine-tune lineups. Central will determine its Week 1 starting quarterback based on the play of senior Sheldon Farrell and sophomore Ryan Wallace, while trying to maintain a competitive atmosphere.

“I think we’ve prepared in practice, and we’re fired up to get back in the jamboree,” Farrell said.

A solid start is equally important for the Indians, who soon will launch into their ultra-competitive Suburban League schedule.

“This will get our confidence up going into such a tough schedule,” said Central senior lineman Dylan Cornett.

But first-year Benton coach Matt Tabor, who was part of his alma mater’s winning team in 1993, hopes his Cardinals keep the South Side’s recent success chugging along.

“It’s going to be competitive because whether you keep score or not, somebody’s gonna want to win,” Michaels said.

Sports reporter Andy Meyer can be reached at andymeyer@npgco.com