PREP PREVIEWS: First official day of practice hampered by rain
The Prattville Lions open the first official week of practice, looking towards the season opener against Wetumpka on Aug. 20. (Courtesy Prattville High School)
By GRAHAM DUNN
Rains may have hampered the official first day of high school football practice on Monday.
But it didn’t take away the enthusiasm of knowing the opening week is just around the corner.
“It’s always good to know that there is something we’re playing for now,” Catholic coach Kirk Johnson said. “When you’re starting early in the summer, you’re just dreaming of what you’re doing now. It’s good to know that we’re playing for something.”
Some schools were able to take advantage of new rules that allow teams extended practice time in the preseason if no spring camps are held. Others kept it traditional with Monday being the first “true” practice.
Chances are, few teams didn’t spend a day or two at 7-on-7 camps during the summer and nearly all had workouts and some point.
Still, coaches will be coaches and found something to use as motivation for the next few days.
“We’ve still got a lot to learn about this team,” Jeff Davis coach Rory Bell said. “It’s just a matter of getting out there and going through the workouts to see how the summer has progressed the team.”
“We’re out of shape,” Johnson added. “We’ve got to get in football shape. When you’re doing those seven-on-sevens, it’s quick and you get off the field, but now you’ve got to sustain a drive or be on the other side of a sustained drive.
“We still have to figure out the dynamic of Caleb (McCreary) being our leader, (Jeremiah) Cobb being our leader on offense, figuring out how to get kids the ball in different places.”
Several new coaches, including Johnson went through the “official” first practice and learned about what to expect the first few days.
New coach JB Wallace welcomed 88 players to his first practice at Prattville. He returns home after spending the last two seasons as head coach at Marbury.
The Lions are coming off a 7-4 season but Wallace is looking ahead instead of back.
“This program has been winning for years,” he said. “They’re used to playing at a high level. The product has to match that. We will represent the community well I can assure you.”
The Lions will work in shells on Thursday, hold a walk-through on Friday and go full pads on Saturday.
Robert E. Lee coach Eric Hudson was unable to take his team onto the field Monday afternoon due to a storm that went through Montgomery during the practice hours. He took advantage of the “indoor” period to stress the importance of getting better.
“Right now, we are just making sure our guys take care of themselves, be in the best shape they can be,” he said. “We were able to lift (weights) today and look forward to going full pads later in the week (Friday).”
The season opens for most teams on the weekend of Aug. 19-21.
Wednesday: Pike Road’s Quinshon Judkins has narrowed his list of recruiting destinations heading into the new season.