Greg Holley's son played in an arena football league, so the Roaring Fork High School football coach knows a thing or two about the fan-friendly environment arena games provide.

And he liked it enough that he decided to bring that atmosphere to football fans in Carbondale. With a Friday scrimmage between his Rams and visiting Rifle, Holley is aiming to put on a show.

Fan contests, a player introduction ceremony involving Harleys and vuvuzela giveaways highlight a night of football Holley is dubbing “Carnage in Carbondale.”

“We wanted to make it like an arena football game,” said the coach, whose son George once played for the Colorado Ice of the United Indoor Football League. “We figured, ‘Why not do it?' We'll entertain the crowd and make it fun. More than anything, it gives the kids something to look forward to after camp.”

Friday's scrimmage marks the end of summer football camp for the Rams, who have been toiling in the heat in recent weeks, getting a jump on the upcoming season. Roaring Fork officially opens the 2010 campaign with a Sept. 3 game against Hotchkiss at home.

Holley said the scrimmage will very much resemble a regular-season contest, with officials and a chain crew overseeing the proceedings. Fun and games will be woven into the action.

“Every 12 plays, we're going to do something to get the crowd involved,” Holley said. “We'll have people on Harleys introducing the teams, like in arena football. … We've got ‘Carnage in Carbondale' T-shirts and vuvuzela horns. We're just trying to draw the crowd in and raise a little money for the football team.”

Admission to Friday's scrimmage is $6 for adults and $4 for children 5 to 17 years old. Children 4 and under are free. The gates open at 6:15 p.m., and kickoff is at 7 p.m.

jcaspersen@postindependent.com