Pads get popping as practice ramps up

Playing in the Class 6A state championship game gave the Hendersonville High football program a charge last season, but the Commandos officially hit the reset button on Monday when they met for the first of two scheduled practices at 6 a.m.

Considered to be a favorite in District 9-AAA, the Commandos face the task of not letting up from their successful 2013 run, which saw them win three playoff games on the road en route to the final.

"We've just tried to quietly go about the business of trying to put together a competitive football team," Hendersonville head coach Bruce Hatfield said. "We've got to be more aggressive, improve our techniques and work on blocking and tackling."

Monday afternoon's workouts, which began at 4:15, began with special-teams work before scattering into position drills.

Hendersonville is still looking for that elusive state championship. Perennial power Maryville thwarted the Commandos' quest in last year's title game, handing HHS a 44-7 loss to put a sour ending to the season.

"It just makes us work harder to get back to that spot and win it," senior defensive end/tight end Tyler Cassidy said. "I think it'll just make us better."

Hatfield said he hopes it will make for a hungrier team this time around.

"We hope they're hungry," Hatfield said. "They're getting a little bit better every day. Their attitudes have been good."

Cassidy is one of those ready to get back to full-contact drills.

"We need it to prepare for our scrimmages and our first game," Cassidy said. "I'm just looking forward to Wilson Central."

The Commandos didn't take any additonal time off after having played 15 games last season.

"We took the time off that we were required to take," Hatfield said. "We got the two weeks off in the summer (during dead period) and the three weeks off after the season."

Cassidy added, "I think we've honestly become closer as a team since the summer started. We've spent more time together."

However, the transition to practicing in full gear and having full contact still takes time.

"It was an adjustment to get full pads on," Hatfield said. "It's early. It'll get better as we go on."

Hendersonville has 26 seniors this season, with six starters returning on offense and three on the defensive side.

Though they didn't win District 9-AAA, Hendersonville could still very well have a target on its back in what is expected to be a highly-contested race for the two automatic playoff spots from the eight-team district.

The Commandos' first scrimmage comes on Friday, when they visit Antioch. Hendersonville hosts Northeast on Aug. 8 and White House on Aug. 12 before competing in the East Robertson Jamboree on Aug. 15, when they will face Springfield.

Hendersonville opens the season on Aug. 22 at District 9-AAA foe Wilson Central.

BEECH

The Buccaneers began their first practice in full pads at an unfamiliar venue.

Beech's opening session took place at Goodlettsville's Moss-Wright park on Monday afternoon as work continues on the Bucs' practice field at the high school.

However, it didn't deter the Bucs from in their opening practice. In fact, coach Anthony Crabtree said the first session was less of an acclimation outing and more of a normal practice routine.

"Because of the maturity of our team, we've had more of a typical practice for us," Crabtree said. "We're a bit ahead in that regard."

Veteran fronts on both sides of the ball will help the Bucs early on, but it's at the skill positions where beech is looking for starters.

"We're very senior-heavy on both our offensive and defensive lines," Crabtree said. "Our skill guys are younger guys. They have busted their tails from December until now in the weight room, and they're ready to put the pads on and compete against other people instead of banging it out in the weight room every day."

But any first practice still has an air of a feeling-out process.

"We're still trying to find out about some guys, whether they'll hit you or not," Crabtree said. "We're still learning how to hit, how to block and how to tackle."

One of those players who won't have to worry about a starting spot is senior Parker Campbell. The three-year starter at fullback will also play a role in the group of linebackers this year.

He's focused on becoming a key leader for the Bucs.

"I'm trying to take a leadership role on this team, being a senior," Campbell said. I just try to do my job and encourage my teammates."

Having been the lead blocker for Jalen Hurd and Dorian carter the past two seasons, Campbell knows how to open holes for running backs. Juniors Auston Vanzant and Rodrick Napper (who transferred from Ripley High in the spring) will get to run behind Campbell's blocking this fall.

"We're running the ball well," Campbell said. "We expect big things from our running backs."

Though the Bucs are coming off a 6-5 finish and a 31-26 first-round loss at home to Hillsboro in the Class 5A playoffs, Crabtree said the players are getting refocused in hopes of another postseason run.

I don't think the atmosphere is any different than last year," Crabtree said. I just think the expectations were different because of the success we experienced the year before. It wasn't a bad season, but it wasn't a great season, either. These (seniors) want to end on a good note. They've worked hard for four years and this is their last shot, so they want to go out and have a great season."

Count Campbell among those ready to hit somebody.

"I'm very excited for the season," Campbell said. "I've been ready to get into full pads for a while now."

They'll get a chance to compete quickly, as the Bucs travel to Oakland on Friday for their first scrimmage.

Beech hosts nearby rival and District 9-AAA foe Station Camp in its season opener on Aug. 22.

GALLATIN

The Green Wave have an extra week to prepare for their first contest, but Gallatin didn't taking its first day in full pads lightly.

Monday's session kicked off at 4:30 p.m., the only practice of the day for head coach Mark Williams and the Green Wave squad.

"It's always a big day when you get out in pads for the first time," Williams said. "Today's the first day where they're really thudding and really wrapping up and driving their feet. It's absolutely something they're excited about."

Coming off an 8-5 season and a class 5A quarterfinals appearance (a 27-14 loss to visiting Clarksville Northeast), the Green Wave want to plant themselves firmly in the District 9-AAA race again this season.

"It's been okay for us so far," Williams said. I don't think any coach across the state of Tennessee will tell you that they're where they want to be right now."

Gallatin started implementing plays on offense, but Williams said the first week might be lighter in that regard than most typical weeks.

"You build up slowly, and you go into the first scrimmage knowing you're not going to have a lot in yet," Williams said. "You just want to grow and learn from that and hope to get better as a unit."

Senior lineman Zack Case is like most interior players, eager to get more involved in workouts now that passing leagues have finished for the year.

"I've been waiting to hit somebody for a while," case said. "It's a fun time."

Gallatin has 20 seniors on the current roster, and five Green Wave starters return on each side of the ball.

"We've got to continue to improve," Williams said. "We're seeing little improvements every day on some things, and we've just got to string those together."

Leading up to the first scrimmage is a crucial week for the Green Wave, but also an exciting one.

"It's a fun time every year when they put the pads on," Williams said. "It's a big evaluation week for us, looking at guys at different positions. We're constantly evaluating them."

Case added, "It's exciting, getting back into it. We're working hard already. It's always exciting and everybody tries to be ready for it. It's great just to be back out here with our teammates and brothers."

The Green Wave will get their first taste of scrimmage action on Friday, when they travel to Shelbyville. They are scheduled to host Cookeville on Aug. 8 and their First Look scrimmage is slated for Saturday, Aug. 16, with Summit as the visiting opponent.

Gallatin opens its season on Aug. 29, traveling to Springfield. The Green Wave return home on sept. 5 to host Beech in their 9-AAA opener.

POPE JOHN PAUL II

This week's two-a-day practices made the season's upcoming arrival seem more realistic for the Knights.

"It feels like we are finally getting ready to play against the big teams we have to beat," PJP II sophomore offensive guard Nick Scott said. "When we get the pads on, we become a lot more aggressive."

Scott started the team's playoff game last season, a 41-25 loss at Baylor.

He is expected to be among the starting unit from day one this season.

However, the sophomore is just one example of the considerable youth that the Knights will have to rely on this season.

PJP II has just eight seniors.

"We have quality leadership in our seniors," Knights' head coach Jerry Joslin said. "That's the good thing."

Joslin is entering his third season at the helm of the program.

"I think our team has become better and more confident," Scott said. "We are thinking we are going to win. We are more positive, thinking we are going to win."

Joslin added, "We are building in that direction. Things are going forward. We are trying to get as many kids (out for football as possible). When we got there, there was 31. Now, there's 62 on varsity. Our numbers have increased."

The Knights have combined to win seven games over the last two seasons, after having won just 10 games over the previous five years.

PJP II had a pair of two-hour sessions on Monday, going out in shorts and T-shirts during the morning session followed by work in full pads during the afternoon.

"It's definitely hard," Scott said. "Sometimes, you wake up and don't want to go practice at all. You just have to have the mental toughness to go out there and get done what needs to be done."

The Knights host a four-way scrimmage with La Vergne, Pearl-Cohn and Signal Mountain on Friday. PJP II faces Portland the following Friday (Aug. 8) and will host Springfield on Tuesday, Aug. 12.

The Knights open the season on Friday, Aug. 22, hosting Stratford.

PORTLAND

The Panthers are attempting to turn last season's minimal success into a hefty dose of motivation this season.

"We've had a bad taste since last season," Portland senior lineman Tyler Trammel said of the winless campaign. "We're definitely ready to get the pads. We've been working hard in the weight room, trying to get stronger. We're ready to hit some other color jersey.

"I've sat down with the seniors and said we have to step it up. It (success) is based on what we do. It reflects on us. Last year, we laid down. I've been trying to instill (things) where we won't lay down any more."

Portland had two practices on Monday, a two-hour session in the morning that consisted of individual drills, special-teams work and seven-on-seven (passing) action.

Then, the Panthers put on full pads for the afternoon session, which consisted of team work on both offense and defense.

"We're trying to make it as hard on them in practice as we can, harder than it would be in a game," Portland first-year head coach Greg Cavanah said. "We've conditioning for six weeks before our first scrimmage in the spring. We'll continue to condition throughout the season."

The Panthers believe that conditioning is essential if they will effectively be able to run their up-tempo offense, an I-formation-based attack that frequently morphs into a spread system.

"Fast has been the motto," Trammel – who started at offensive guard and defensive end last season (but who will move to offensive tackle this season) – said. "Our idea is we're going to line up quick and run it down your throat. We want to get a play off every seven seconds. It's going to be fun to play."

Cavanah indicated that he has been pleased with the progress of the players as they have gone from last year's single-wing offense to more modern attack.

"So, far, yes, it's been good," Cavanah said. "We are still learning. We are going to lean on our skill until we can get our line experienced."

Trammel and junior offensive tackle Charles Ring will lead Portland's offensive front.

"We have to build depth," Cavanah said. "We have to play young kids, and we're going to need those kids to come on quick.

"I tell them that I want to see them better the next day. I want them to believe in what we are doing … believe in what we're doing, work your butt off and good things will happen."

With Cavanah being on staff last year as an assistant coach, Trammel indicated that the coaching transition has been an easy one for the players.

"We had him last year, so we kind of knew who he was," Trammel said. "The transition wasn't as hard because we were used to him."

Portland travels to Nashville for a scrimmage at Hillsboro on Friday, faces Pope John Paul II on Friday, Aug. 8, and then will travel to nearby Franklin-Simpson (Ky.) for a scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 15.

The Panthers open the regular season with contest at Westmoreland on Aug. 22.

WESTMORELAND

Westmoreland has a wealth of returning players who gained experience last season.

However, that knowledge doesn't prevent this week from being any less difficult for those experienced players.

"Camp is the toughest week of the year," Eagle senior tailback/defensive back Darrin Akins said. "It's physical and mentally (tough) too."

Instead of having two practice sessions on Monday like many other teams, Westmoreland had a lengthy evening practice that began with work in the weight room and concluded with their first practice in full gear.

"We've been looking forward to it," Akins said. "We want to see what we've got. You can't really tell till you get pads on."

Eagle third-year head coach Steve Harris added, "For the most part, they are excited and ready to go. It's a totally different ballgame once you get the pads on and the physical part comes into the game."

Westmoreland has 13 seniors and returns 10 starters, six of which return on defense.

"You're always further along when you have this many people coming back," Harris said. "We are trying to be as safety-conscious as possible. At the same time, we have some people we need to see. We have to find out who can play in back-up roles."

The Eagles have won nine games and one playoff game in each of the last two seasons.

"We have high hopes," Akins said. "It's dedication, being here every day."

Attendance hasn't been a problem according to Harris.

"We had great attendance for our summer workouts," Harris said. "Our summer program has gone pretty well. We feel like we've been able to maintain the strength we gained in the winter, and we feel like we are in good condition at this time."

Both of Westmoreland's scrimmages come early on, a scrimmage at Donelson Christian Academy on Friday followed by another against visiting Wilson Central the following Tuesday.

"We're going to use the scrimmages to evaluate personnel," Harris said. "We wish they were a little more spread out, but that's how the schedule has worked out."

The Eagles open the season by hosting neighboring Portland on Friday, Aug. 22.

WHITE HOUSE

The Blue Devils took momentum – and enthusiasm – into the start of fall practice.

"After all the running and conditioning we did, now it's time to put the pads on and see who's ready to step up and play," White House senior offensive guard Tyler Gardner said. "We're ready for our season to start. We're ready to mix it up with some other teams. We are looking forward to this year."

White House head coach Jeff Porter knows exactly how much time the team has to find replacements for its departed starters from last season's quarterfinal squad.

"It's a brand-new team … that's what's exciting," Porter said. "We have to play in 32 days. We don't have a lot of time."

The Blue Devils do have more time than a considerable amount of teams that open play in week zero. White House doesn't begin the regular season until one week later, with a game at Portland on Aug. 29.

The Blue Devils practiced in full pads on Monday morning before going out for a three-hour session in just shorts and shoulder pads during the afternoon session.

White House has made three consecutive quarterfinal appearances, but the Blue Devils are filling numerous vacancies as they return just three starters on offense and four on defense, though senior placekicker Dillon Anderson and junior punter Logan Trimmer also return.

"The next two weeks will probably tell a lot," Porter said. "The big thing right now is simply applying whatever is going on in practice to letting you get better as a player and letting it help the team.

"We have to make strides every day. When you have as few back as we do, you don't have any wiggle room to not make progress."

Gardner is one of those returning starters.

"I think there's going to be a lot of competition," Gardner said. "We have three starting offensive linemen coming back from last year (including senior offensive tackle Kyle Cantrell and junior offensive guard James Whitby). A lot of our DBs (defensive backs) from last year are back. We have a lot of leadership on and off the field.

"I think it's going to be interesting to see who's going to play where and to see who's going to be out here on the field on Friday nights."

All three of the Blue Devils' preseason scrimmages are on the road, at Adamsville on Friday, at Goodpasture next Tuesday and then at Hendersonville on Tuesday, Aug. 12. Those road contests could prove beneficial as three of White House's first four games are away.

"The last two weeks have been really positive for us," Porter said. "They've been trying to do what we're asking them to do."

STATION CAMP

The Bison are keeping with their tradition of opening football practice in full pads at Camp NaCoMe, located in Hickman County.

Station Camp arrived at Camp NaCoMe on Sunday and will return to campus on Thursday.

The Bison host Brentwood for a scrimmage on Friday, followed by another at Oakland on Tuesday. Then, they will host Smyrna on Tuesday, Aug. 12 before hosting Trousdale County two days later, on Aug. 14.

Station Camp opens the regular season with a district contest at Beech on Aug. 22.