Football players battle heat

Published 6:00 pm Sunday, August 7, 2011

Football players wrestled with 100-degreeheat and high humidity in the first week of preseason practice forpublic schools as the heat index . Coaches took plenty of waterbreaks to help the players deal with the unusually hightemperatures.

    Meanwhile, Mississippi Association of Independent Schools membersentered their second week of practice and donned fullequipment.  Many of themwill participate in jamborees either Thursday or Friday of thisweek.

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    Brookhaven: The Panthers went through a briskscrimmage Saturday morning. Ole Brook head coach Wade Henderson sawsome positive results.

    “We got off to a slow start offensively,” said Henderson. “Ourdefense looked pretty strong and dominated the offense early.

    He said end Jaboree Poole “did a good job on defense for us.”

    The Panthers intercepted two passes.

    Sophomore J.J. Stepney drew special praise from Henderson., “J.J.ran the ball well. He’s quick as lightning. He reads the holes realwell and hits them fast.”

    The Panthers will be young at running back, especially after1,000-yard rusher Travorius Showers was declared academicallyineligible. Showers was an offensive leader last season when thePanthers marched to the Class 5A state championship game.

    “Travorius and I had a meeting last Monday and it washeart-breaking for both of us,” said Henderson. “Hopefully, he canpass the GED and play some football at Co-Lin.”

    Henderson said quarterback Zach (Smith) “did some good things. Heshowed some good leadership. He can run the ball between thetackles.”

    The Panthers also worked on special teams. “Our kicker, StephenDavey, did a good job for us today.”

     Davey is the team’s newpunter and placekicker.

    Saturday was Brook’s first day in pads. The Panthers participate ina controlled scrimmage at Class 6A Terry Friday, starting at 6 p.m.Varsity and junior varsity teams will see action.

    Brookhaven Academy: Coach Tripp McCarty directedhis team through a full-week of practice with a Friday scrimmage atEast Rankin against the Patriots and Central Hinds concluding theweek. The coaches broke down the film when they returned to BA’sfield house.

    “There were definitely some things I was pleased with but therewere many things we need to improve on,” said McCarty. “It willhelp our kids to see it on film.”

    He said senior Bailey Hodge made a strong showing at linebacker.”Bailey played well on film. We only gave up one score allday.”

    McCarty said East Rankin had an impressive defensive line. “Theyhave one of the best defensive tackles around.”

    The BA Cougars have vacancies to fill on offense and defense,especially in the trenches.

    “We have some young kids on the field who showed they are ready toplay,” said McCarty. “The big thing is our offensive line where wemust improve a lot.”

    McCarty said all three running backs “ran the ball well and theypass-protected pretty well.”

    The Parklane jamboree kicks off at 5:30 Friday. It will includeseventh grade, junior  highand varsity teams. BA’s varsity is schedule to play Parklane at6:30.

    Copiah Academy: The Colonels will host theirannual jamboree Thursday. Action starts at 5 p.m., with ACCS vs.Canton Academy. River Oaks plays MRA 1 at 5:35, followed by Copiahvs. Canton 1 at 6:10, ACCS vs. MRA 2 at 6:45, River Oaks vs. Canton1 at 7:30, Copiah vs. MRA 1 at 7:55 and MRA 2 vs. Canton 2 at8:30.

    Coach Scotty Cline’s Colonels suffered a devastating blow lastweekend when senior quarterback Devin Harper sustained a broken legin a Sunday auto accident. Harper’s backup is senior BarronMiller.

    Wesson: The Cobras worked on base offense and basedefense in their first week of preseason drills. Coach TommyClopton said he was pleased with his team’s progress.

    Wesson will host Crystal Springs in an Aug. 18, Thursday nightseason opener. Kickoff is 7:30 in Co-Lin’s Stone Stadium.

    Kings Daughters Medical Center has been providing area footballteams with bottled water, fresh fruit and T-shirts. Their athletictrainer staff has increased.

    “We really appreciate the folks from KDMC coming out to give usfruit and water,” said Clopton. “The kids really enjoyed it.”

    Enterprise: New head coach Casey Eubanks workedhis Yellow Jackets through the first week of preseason practice. Hesaid the heat was a factor.

    “We have to take good care of our players and give them plenty ofwater,” said Eubanks. “It’s been awfully hot.”

    Eubanks said he expected a few late arrivals on the varsity teamand should have around 30 players for the Aug. 19 season opener atSalem.

    Lawrence County: Coach Mike Davis labeledSaturday  “a good day”after his Cougars participated in the 8 a.m. Picture Day sessionand a 50-minute scrimmage.

    “Our first week of practice went unbelievably well, despite theweather, ” said Davis. “Our kids have really fought through theheat and that speaks well for how hard they worked during thesummer.”

    Lawrence County will host a jamboree Friday, starting at 4:30 witha 24-minute junior varsity test, featuring LCHS versus Ridgeland.The varsity teams will meet at 5 p.m. for a regulation half.

    The Mendenhall and West Jones varsities play at 6, followed by theJV squads at 7. The Magee and Tylertown JVs are next, followed bythe varsity teams.

      Bogue Chitto:Coach Gareth Sartin said his Bobcats made progress in practicedespite the heat. They have elected to bypass a jamboree as theyprepare for their Aug. 19 home opener against the Loyd StarHornets, aka Possum Bowl.

     West Lincoln: Thefirst week went well, according to West Lincoln coach ChrisCalcote. “We had some kids come in when school started. We aretrying to get them in shape.

    “You shouldn’t have to get in shape if you worked out all summer,”added Calcote. “It was hot and we took breaks every 25-20minutes.”

    Calcote’s Bears are at Natchez Cathedral Friday night for ajamboree. Action begins at 7:30.