It’s a whole new ballgame as area high school football teamsbegin preseason practice Monday. It also marks the debut of newhead coaches at Brookhaven, Bogue Chitto, Loyd Star, West Lincolnand Franklin County.

Players will labor through three days of workouts in shorts,t-shirts and helmets before putting on shoulder pads Thursday andFriday. Full equipment will be donned the following Monday.

Coping with the heat is a critial factor in August and coachesare taking precautionary measures. Players are given several waterbreaks during the sweat-soaked sessions.

Brookhaven: Tucker Peavey said he expects towelcome 70 players in grades 9-12 to practice today. They will meetat 11:45 a.m., in the field house and practice at 4 p.m. ThePanthers practice Tuesday at 4 p.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday, afterschool.

“We have a long way to go,” said Peavey who was hired in June toreplace Andrew Hickman as head coach and athletic director. “Wedidn’t have spring practice with them and we have a bunch of newassistant coaches.”

The Panthers make their season debut Aug. 30, hosting theHazlehurst Indians.

Working as assistant coaches are Rod Henderson, Ryan Ross,Patrick Hardy, Jaymie Palmer and Eric Stokes.

Peavey, a Brookhaven native and BHS graduate, returns home aftercoaching several years at the college level. He coached at theUniversity of Louisiana-Lafayette last year.

Bogue Chitto: The Bobcats start practice Monday at 4p.m. That schedule will continue for the remainder of theweek.

New head coach Gareth Sartin said he expects around 30players to report. The Bobcats play their first game Aug. 30, atStringer.

“We plan to take a lot of water breaks,” answeredSartin, when asked about practice and how the players would copewith the high heat and humidity. “We will have water available forthem at all times.”

Working with Sartin on the football staff are longtimeassistant Donnie Stuart and newcomer Adam Moak, a Bogue Chittonative.

West Lincoln: The Bears, under the direction of new headcoach Willie Brumfield, will practice Monday through Wednesday at 6p.m. School starts Thursday and practice will begin afterschool.

Brumfield said he expects around 30 players to report. Hisassistant coach is Luke Addison.

Wesson: The Cobras, under the direction of veteran headcoach Ronald Greer, start preseason drills Monday at 3:30 p.m. TheCobras will practice from 4-6 p.m. and 6:30-8.

Greer’s Cobras will enjoy a breather between practicesthis week. “We’ll take a break and get some juice,” said Greer. “Wegive them water breaks throughout and give them a chance to cooldown.”

Greer said he expects around 52 players to report forpractice. Assisting Greer are Phillip Knight, Rob Channell, RickyGunter, Ronnie Channell and Kyle Britt.

The Cobras play their first game Aug. 30, hostingSalem’s Wildcats.

Brookhaven Academy: Mississippi Private SchoolAssociation members started practice a week earlier thanMississippi High School Activities Association members. Head coachRay Ishee said his team has enjoyed a productive week of practice.Working as assistant coaches are Neal King, Ron Rushing, PaulAnderson and Andrew Hickman.

The first three days were reserved mainly forconditioning. Players wore shorts, t-shirts andhelmets.

“We’ve had a good week,” said Ishee. “Playing footballin shorts is not very productive. We’ll put on pads and startmaking more progress.”

A large, open tent was erected on the side of thepractice field to provide shade for the players during waterbreaks. “Anytime you can get out of the sun, it helps you cooldown,” said Ishee.

The Cougars participate in a jamboree Aug. 16, at McCombParklane. They play at Simpson County Academy Aug. 23, in theirseason opener.

Lawrence County: Second-year head coach Trent Hammondexpects to welcome 50 players to practice Monday. Hammond said theCougars would practice tomorrow morning at 7.

For the rest of the week, the team will practice at 4p.m. each day. They play their first game Aug. 30, hosting theCollins Tigers who are defending Class 3A statechampions.

Working with Hammond are assistant coaches Mike Davis,Craig Davis, Larry Collins, Chris Clark, Eric Booth and CoreyKeyes.

Franklin County: The Bulldogs, under the direction ofnew head coach Anthony Hart, start practice each day at 2 p.m. Hartsaid he expects 45 varsity players, grades 10-12.

“We plan to let them drink a lot of water,” said Hart.”We’ll keep a close eye on them.”

Raymond Buffington will coach the offense line; CharlesMoore will handle receivers and defensive backs; Tony Gibbs willcoach linebackers; Ray McCluskey, running backs and quarterbacks;and Hart, defensive line.

The Bulldogs kick off their season Saturday Aug. 31,playing Jena, La., in the Vidalia Jamboree. It will be part of an8-team jamboree, starting at 5 p.m. Each game will feature two12-minute halfs.

North Pike: The Jaguars will practice Monday morning at7:30. The rest of the week practice will begin at 5:30 in theafternoon. School begins Aug. 9.

Coached by Adam Barron, the Jaguars play their firstgame Aug. 30, at South Pike.

Barron expects around 66 players in grades 9-12 toreport for practice. He is in his third year as headcoach.

Working as assistant coaches are Don Dartch, George Lottand Wes McCullough.

Loyd Star: Sidney Wheatley takes control of the mostsuccessful program in Lincoln County after one year as anassistant. The Hornets practice Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. andagain at 7 p.m.

Wheatley said he expected 46 players for the first dayof drills. The Hornets make their debut Aug. 30, at BaySprings.

Last season the Hornets finished 11-2, advancing to theSouth State Class 2A title game at Gulfport St. John.

Working with Wheatley are assistant coaches Eddie Brittand Josh Thibodeaux, both newcomers to the staff.

Enterprise: Coach Ricky Deere’s Yellow Jackets practiceMonday at 5 p.m. After school starts on Thursday, practices willstart at 2:30.

Deere’s Jackets, Class 1A state playoff participantslast year, begin preparations for an Aug. 30 home debut against theMcLaurin Tigers. Deere’s assistant coach is ScottLeggett.

Copiah Academy: “Our practices are going pretty good,”said head coach Tim Ellison. He had broken down practice sessionsinto four stages this past week, starting at 8-9:30 a.m., with thedefensive line; 9:30-11, secondary and linebackers; 4-5:30 p.m.,offensive line; 5:30-7 p.m., backs and receivers.

The first combined team practice is Monday at 9a.m.

Working with Ellison are assistant coaches LanceTeasley, defensive coordinator; Mitch Mitchell, defensive line andlinebackers; Sam Wright, defensive backs and wide receivers; KeithZimmerman, offensive and defensive lines; and Hugh Knight,offensive backs.

“The extra coaches are going to help our cause,” saidEllison. He has 28 varsity players who are preparing for theSaturday, Aug. 17, Copiah Jamboree at Gallman.

The jamboree will start at 4:30 p.m., featuring EastRankin vs. Wayne Academy. The competition continues: 5-5:30, Copiahvs. Columbia; 5:30-6, Wayne vs. Central Hinds; 6-6:30, Columbia vs.East Rankin; 6:30-7, Central Hinds vs. Prentiss Christian School;7-7:30, Chamberlain-Hunt vs. University Christian; 7:30-8, PrentissChristian vs. Hillcrest Christian; 8-8:30, Copiah vs. University;and 8:30-9, Hillcrest vs. Chamberlain-Hunt.