From the end of the Fourth of July weekend until July 15th, the Cordova High School varsity and junior varsity football teams spent their time in the weight room and field working on plays on offense and defense, as they had prior to the holiday.

But on Saturday, the public will have a chance to meet members of both squads.

The Lancer football teams, along with the school’s cheerleaders and band, will take part in Meet the Lancers festivities. The event will be held at Village Green Park in Rancho Cordova from 6 to 8 p.m.

“We have 94 kids in our program,” said Cordova varsity football head coach Darrin Nill of the varsity and junior varsity squads.

In addition, the Cordova Jr. Lancers’ football teams and coaches are also scheduled to be present.

“We will represent the entire football community in Rancho Cordova,” Nill said.

Another treat for Lancer football fans is the varsity football team will be donning its new uniforms. Plus, show off some new gear that they will be using for the new season.

The grid program will also be selling its spirit wear for the upcoming season.

Nill noted that many food venders would be present at the park during the Meet the Lancers festivities.

“It’s a real feel good type of community event,” Nill said.

The Sac-Joaquin Section’s “dead period” started July 18th. High school football teams, along with fall sports teams in volleyball, girls tennis, girls golf, water polo and cross-country, can continue to their workouts but only voluntary such as weight training and conditioning, and without the use of a ball, with the exception of cross-country.

“We have 30 to 45 kids showing up regularly for conditioning and weight training,” said Nill of players showing up during the dead period the last two weeks.

Next Monday, the dead period officially ends when practices for football and the other CHS fall sports teams officially start. The gridders will go through conditioning for two days and end the week with donning the shoulder pads.

Nill said he, his coaches on both levels and the players are more than anxious to get the 2016 season underway.

“We’re starting to get more kids out for weight training (this week),” Nill said. “The kids are starting to hang around a little bit more. Getting a lot more texts, lot more phone calls from kids, just staying in touch.”

Cordova will kick-off the season on Friday, Aug. 26th when it hosts Rio Americano in a non-league game. The Lancers play three of their five non-league games at home before starting Sierra Valley Conference action.