Panthers scrimmage to end first week

Published 5:00 am Monday, August 9, 2004

Brookhaven head coach Tucker Peavey ran his Panthers through a60-minute controlled scrimmage Saturday morning and he saw plentyof room for improvement.

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It was the first week of preseason practice for area publicschools. Afternoon heat and humidity took a toll on coaches andplayers.

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“There are a lot of things we need to work on but I did see somegood things,” said Peavey, reviewing the scrimmage. “The defensewas aggressive and they pursued the football.

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“Our passing game must get a lot better,” Peavey continued. “Wehave to throw the ball and catch the ball a lot better.”

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Peavey’s Panthers posed for pictures Friday afternoon beforestarting practice. Team photos and other photos were taken on KingField.

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“Our defense should be better than last year,” said BHS seniordefensive tackle Jessie Bowman, an all-state selection. “We areplaying as a team.”

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Franklin County: “It’s been plenty hot,” said head coachAnthony Hart. “We are picking up where we left off in the spring.Our players are in good shape. Everybody worked out thissummer.”

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The Bulldogs worked on special teams plus offense anddefense and conditioning. Hart said 50 players areparticipating.

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Hart continues to groom Jasper O’Quinn as a seniorquarterback after moving him from tailback in the spring. “Jasperhas a lot of speed and he’s a good athlete.”

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Enterprise: The Yellow Jackets became better acquaintedwith new head coach Mac Bezet and new assistant Roe Burns thisweek. Bezet is coaching the defense and Burns is leading theoffense. New assistant coach Brian Eby is working with specialteams while holdover Chris Smith is working with theline.

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“Practice is going pretty good,” said Bezet. “The kidsare doing well. It’s just the old, fat coaches who are havingtrouble.”

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Bezet, 60, and Burns, 57, were hired after springpractice was completed so the players are adjusting to a new systemon offense and defense. Both of them came out of retirement tocoach the football team.

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“We didn’t have a spring practice so we are behindeveryone else,” said Bezet. “It’s a whole new system for thesekids. It’s taking them a while to get used to me.”

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Enterprise only has one senior on the team this year inwingback Trey Herrington. There are 14 juniors on the 31-membervarsity squad.

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Brookhaven Academy: The Cougars were in full equipmentthis week. Mississippi Private School Association members startedpractice a week earlier than the public schools.

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“We are making improvements,” said BA coach Ray Ishee.”We have a lot of young guys who are going to be up front forus.

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“It’s been real hot so we have been taking a lot ofwater breaks,” he continued. “We feel pretty good about our skillfolks; most of them are seniors.”

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By contrast, Ishee said, “We have 14 offensive linemenwith just one senior.”

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The Cougars participate in a varsity football jamboreeFriday night at Adams County Christian School inNatchez.

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BA will host a junior high jamboree next Saturday.Joining the Cougars are Copiah, Adams and Trinity.