FOOTBALL

Jackson area football teams start full practice

Brandon Shields
Jackson Sun

MILAN – “We’re looking OK for the first hour in pads, I guess,”

The sentiment came from Milan head football coach Jeff Morris about 8 a.m. on Monday.

The Bulldogs were on the practice field not long after the morning sun began shining on it from the eastern horizon.

Morning practices are one way of dodging hot temperatures characteristic of this time of year in the afternoons, when teams will be almost forced to practice once school starts within the next couple weeks.

Bolivar and Riverside continued their young traditions of practicing at midnight.

“We had 300 people here watching it last year, and the kids are excited about it too,” said Riverside head coach Johnnie Frost. “It’s a good way to get things started because it shows the kids the coaches can’t wait to get started either.”

There was obvious work to be done on each high school football practice field in rural West Tennessee.

Linemen weren’t getting every blocking assignment correct. Quarterbacks were looking to hand the ball off in the wrong direction on certain calls. Running backs were trying to run into the wrong lane.

But one thing most players were glad to hear between barks from coaches trying to correct their errant ways was the sound of players colliding against each other at the line of scrimmage and at the point of contact on linebacker-running back drills.

Jackson Christian's linemen run speed ladder drills during their first full practice, Monday monring, July 24.

“That’s what I want to see on every snap!” first-year head coach Darby Palmer was telling his team after aggressive play from his Jackson Christian players on both sides of the ball.

Trinity Christian's Ronald Edwards watches as his teammate Vik Horton work on speed drills during their first full practice, Monday morning, July 24.

Trinity Christian’s young group of quarterbacks and receivers worked on their timing within their routes.

“Be looking for the ball!” Lions head coach Blake Butler told his players. “Even if you’re not the first read on a play, but be ready for it to come your way!”

Coaches have three days of work in full gear before they can line their players up against athletes from another team.

“Hopefully, it won’t be as hot as this week as it was last week,” Morris said. “But there’s nothing we can do about it other than just deal with it however we need to and stay within the TSSAA’s rules.”

Reach Brandon Shields at bjshields@jacksonsun.com or at 731-425-9751. Follow him on Twitter @JSEditorBrandon or on Instagram at jacksonsunsports.