Starkville High School is preparing to welcome our community to Yellow Jacket Stadium on Friday for the start of a new era in Jacket Football under the leadership of storied head coach John Carr. We've gathered all your need-to-know information in this Gameday Guide as the Jackets host #1 preseason-ranked Oak Grove High School. Keep reading for important gameday information and the fan experiences you won't want to miss...

SHS VS Oak Grove
Friday, August 29
Yellow Jacket Stadium
Gates Open: 5:30pm
Kickoff: 7:00pm
Tickets: $10 each available online only at GoFan.co

• Visiting fans from Oak Grove should utilize the South Gate, and home fans will enter at the main North Gate.
• Tickets are required for all children in 1st grade or older. Remember that students will be allowed admittance without a parent if they present a ticket AND a valid driver's license or 2025-2026 SHS student ID. All other students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Jacket Athletics will observe our clear bag policy (see guidelines below) and security screenings will be in place, including metal detectors and security wanding. Please prepare for lines at entry.

Click for a full list of Jacket Gameday Operations.

PARKING & CAMPUS TRAFFIC

• Ticket holders may enter campus from SHS entrances at Lynn Lane, Louisville Street and Yellow Jacket Drive.
• Free game parking is available on campus. NEW this year.. Premium Parking is available on a first come, first served basis in the lot behind the visitors stands adjacent to the stadium for $10 per vehicle. All reserved parking fees benefit Jacket Cheer. (Please see our campus game parking map above for lots.)
• Please pay careful attention to road closures and directional changes at the conclusion of the game. Law enforcement officers will assist with traffic flow as fans exit the Starkville High School campus.

 

WHAT TO WEAR

This week's gridiron contest vs Oak Grove is a BLACK OUT game!

All season, SOCSD will observe Black & Gold Friday spirit days on each gameday during the school day and at home games. Students and staff are invited to wear the following spirit attire on Friday's this fall...

 

THIS WEEK'S FAN EXPERIENCES

Decades Football Tailgating Tent

This fall, Jacket Athletics will host a "Decades" tailgating tent at each home game to welcome former SHS Football players from a featured decade -- 1970s through the 2010s and beyond! The featured decade for the SHS vs Oak Grove home contest is the 1970s!

On Friday, August 29, former football players who attended Starkville High during any year in the 1970s are invited to join your teammates to watch the game from our Decades Tent in the North Endzone. Tickets are required for all former football players.

Planning ahead for your decade? Here's our decade schedule...

August 29 (Oak Grove) -- 1970s football players
September 19 (Meridian) -- 1980s football players
October 17 (Clinton) -- 1990s football players
October 24 (Murrah) -- 2000s football players
October 31 (Madison Central) -- 2010s and beyond

Scroll to our tent reservation section below to view our stadium tailgating guidelines.

 

Yellow Jacket Stadium Spirit Store

NEW this season... don't miss our Yellow Jacket Stadium Spirit Store at the home gate ticket booth. The Spirit Store will be open pregame beginning when gates open at 5:30pm. Stop by to purchase Jacket tshirts and polos as well as our commemorative Turf Squares available for a special gameday price of $10 per square!

Turf Squares are a great way to purchase a piece of Jacket history. If you or your student played or performed on the original stadium turf for football, soccer, track, band, or cheer, you can own a square of the championship grass!

 

Mini Cheer Camp Performance

Friday at HALFTIME! Parents, grandparents and friends are invited to celebrate over 200 of our youngest Jackets who completed the Jacket Cheer Mini Camp this week as they perform their cheer and dance routine at halftime! All guests require a ticket for entry.

 

Commemorative 2025 Football Program

As our home fans enter Yellow Jacket Stadium, don't miss the opportunity to purchase a copy of this year's Football Program presented by Jacket Band. Look for our Band Boosters who will sell programs along the outer track at the north end of the stadium. All proceeds from program purchases benefit SOCSD Bands.

 

Concessions

Enjoy dinner at the stadium courtesy of SHS Football Boosters! Our visitor (southwest corner) and home (northeast corner) concession stands offer great food, snacks and drink options benefitting the Jacket Football program.

 

JACKET LIVESTREAM

Can't make it to the game in Starkville on Friday night? You can still experience the Yellow Jacket home opener using our newly revamped livestream at SHSJackets.com OR search "Starkville High School" on your AppleTV, Roku or FireTV streaming platform.

Jacket Livestream is produced by the SOCSD Technology Department along with the Starkville High School Jacket Sports Media Club and features game coverage, commentary, replays, videos and more! It's the next best thing to being in the stands!

OTHER GAMEDAY OPPORTUNITIES
(fee-based)

Food Trucks

Interested in operating a FOOD TRUCK at Yellow Jacket Stadium during home games? This year, Jacket Athletics has implemented new guidelines for participation of food truck vendors during games and competitions. 

• An Operations FEE is required to operate a food truck at the stadium
• All food trucks must receive authorization from Jacket Athletics to operate once the required fee has been paid.

For information about operating a truck or to reserve a spot, please contact Jay Hopson, Director of Athletics at 662-615-0074 or jhopson@starkvillesd.com.

 

Tailgating Tents

In addition to the district's three designated reserved tents, Jacket Athletics offers the opportunity for groups, community members, and organizations to reserve a tailgating tent in the North Endzone for a special fan experience.

• Reserved tailgating tents are $500 per tent for each home game.
• Tents are limited and available on a first come, first served basis
• Reserved tents include 25 complimentary game tickets, tent set-up and tear-down and one 6-foot table.
• Tents should be reserved and paid by Thursday at 5:00pm and tickets may be picked up at the Jacket Athletics office at the Greensboro Center.
• Ticket holders for reserved tents will receive a wrist band for entry into the endzone tailgate area
• Coolers and other bags or containers may be brought into the tailgate area. However, all coolers and containers will be searched and screened upon entry.
• Reserved tent ticket holders who wish to enter the stadium with coolers or other tailgating supplies or containers should arrive at the gate for screening no later than 5:15pm on gameday.
• The tailgate area is separated from the field of play by fencing and no items from tents may extend beyond the fencing.
• No alcoholic beverages are permitted on SOCSD campuses.

For information about reserving a tailgating tent, please contact Jay Hopson, Director of Athletics at 662-615-0074 or jhopson@starkvillesd.com.