It’s time for the annual sale of the popular Cougar Cards to benefit the Escalon High School football program, while parking concerns also surround the start of the season.

Escalon varsity football head coach Mark Loureiro said before Friday night’s home preseason opener against Enochs, members of the football program will be out in the community on Thursday, Aug. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“Expect them to be knocking on doors,” Loureiro said.

Players will be selling the Cougar Cards, at $15 apiece, which include discounts at a number of local businesses.

“This is the 21st year we have done it,” Loureiro said of the card sales. Many of the players have also gotten pre-sales done, with the proceeds benefitting the football program.

Much of the money raised in the past couple of years has gone toward upgrading helmets, providing players with the state of the art in terms of safety and protection. About 60 percent of the helmets have been replaced with the new, improved versions and Loureiro said they want to complete the conversion.

The coach added that the card is a good value and virtually pays for itself within a couple of uses.

“There are tons of local businesses on it,” he said. “It has been supported very well by the community.”

For residents who don’t get to purchase a Cougar Card from a player, Loureiro can be reached at the school, 209-838-7073, in order to buy one.

Meanwhile, ongoing construction at the school could make parking for the Friday night JV and varsity football contests a little more challenging.

“Due to construction, there will be less parking available in the EHS student parking lot. However, parking procedures will be very similar to that of last year,” noted Escalon High School Principal Eric Simoni. “Handicap parking will be accessible through a manned gate by the curriculum office. EHS staff will provide cart service to those that need it.”

In addition, there is some parking available in the staff lot, with signs directing fans to the stadium entrance; from the student parking lot, fans will walk to the field entrance on Escalon-Bellota Road.

Simoni noted that parking is also available at the Escalon Community Center and typically is available at Escalon Covenant Church, both of which are directly across Escalon-Bellota Road from the football field. Escalon Covenant has a drive-thru dinner event on Friday, which could limit the parking in that lot for this week.

Loureiro said additional staff members are anticipated to be on hand to help with the parking issues and directing fans around the construction zones.

JV kickoff is at 5:30 p.m.; varsity game follows with the kickoff at about 7:30 p.m. Friday at Engel Field.