For most football teams, preseason action consists of honing in on cadences, getting reps at game speed, and determining spots on the depth chart. This year, however, the final regular season tune up will be the most important game on the Windham, N.H., high school football team’s schedule. The Jaguars will be the first football team from New England to play internationally when they compete in the Global Ireland Football Tournament in Dublin on Friday. “Usually the first game is a 10-on-10 scrimmage,” said sixth-year Windham coach Jack Byrne, a Tewksbury native. “Now all of a sudden, it’s the biggest game that we’ve ever played in.” Byrne’s journey to bringing his team to Ireland is a testament to his dedication. When he coached in Colorado, Byrne ran football camps in Brazil with a former player, Talon Roggasch. A trip to Ireland to visit distant relatives after his father died in 2021 inspired him to find a way to have his New Hampshire team play overseas. It took a year of planning and fundraising, but the Jaguars made the dream into a reality. The Jaguars line up opposite the Maclay School of Tallahassee, Florida, in Dublin in the first game of a tripleheader. National powerhouses IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) and Episcopal School of Dallas (Dallas, Texas) square off in the second game, and the Ireland U-19 and Great Britain U-19 teams compete in the final game of the tripleheader. Byrne has been in contact with coaches from other programs and will exchange insight and notes postgame for the upcoming regular season. The Jaguars look forward to meeting fellow players from around the country and the world, he said, forging a bond that goes beyond the gridiron. “When you share a big experience with people…that’s what life’s all about,” said Byrne. “That’s what really lights you up and that’s the stories that you share 35, 40 years down the line.” While in Dublin, the Jaguars will also attend the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, where Florida State and Georgia Tech square off on Aug. 24. Like Byrne, Florida State defensive coordinator Adam Fuller is also from Tewksbury. Fuller served as linebackers coach at Worcester Polytechnic Institute as his first coaching role in 1998, and his lone head coaching gig was at Assumption College in 2008, where he finished 1-9. The Windham players know they’re not at the same level of the nationally ranked IMG Academy. The Jaguars finished 4-6 last season and were bounced in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs to New Hampshire state finalist Londonderry. The Jaguars defeated Malden Catholic, 20-19, in the season opener to claim a victory over their lone opponent from Massachusetts. “We don’t pretend to be some juggernaut that’s won 20 state titles in a row,” said Byrne. “We represent a lot of hard work.” The Global Ireland Football Tournament is more than just a chance for American high school football teams to play in a foreign country. It's an opportunity for these young athletes to experience a different culture, meet new people, and create memories that will last a lifetime. The tournament is also a testament to the growing popularity of American football around the world. Maclay, another team participating in the tournament, is eager to make their mark on the international stage. “Being able to play our game in a different country is amazing and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I’m just very excited,” said Maclay football player Ryder Marks. The Maclay Marauders are also looking forward to the atmosphere of the games and the chance to introduce the sport to new fans. “I hope a lot of fans from Ireland come to learn about American football,” Marks said. “I think the energy is going to be a lot different during the game.” While the players are excited to compete on the field, the tournament also offers a chance for coaches to learn from each other and share their expertise. Byrne, the Windham coach, has already been in contact with coaches from other teams and plans to exchange notes after the games. “I talked with their coach a lot,” Byrne said. “We want both teams to have a good experience, but we also want them to compete. If it’s a situation where if we can get everybody on the field we’ll do that. We should be fighting hard and then doing all the friendly stuff after the game.” The Global Ireland Football Tournament is a unique and exciting event that showcases the international appeal of American football. It is a testament to the sport's ability to bring people together from all walks of life, and it is a surefire way to create lasting memories for the players involved. The tournament is also a sign of the growing global reach of the sport, and it is sure to continue to grow in popularity in the years to come. The Global Ireland Football Tournament is a chance for these young athletes to experience a different culture, meet new people, and create memories that will last a lifetime. The tournament is also a testament to the growing popularity of American football around the world, and it is sure to continue to grow in popularity in the years to come. The Global Ireland Football Tournament provides an opportunity for American high school football teams to compete on an international stage, while also showcasing the growing popularity of the sport around the world. The tournament is a unique and exciting event that brings together players and coaches from different countries, creating a truly global experience. It's a chance for these young athletes to experience a different culture, meet new people, and create memories that will last a lifetime. It's also a testament to the sport's ability to bring people together from all walks of life. The Global Ireland Football Tournament is sure to continue to grow in popularity in the years to come, and it is a must-see event for any fan of American football. The tournament is a testament to the sport's growing international reach and its ability to bring people together from all over the world.