Passing Camp prepares players for new season
The Greenbrier Wolfpack football team has found the perfect way to prepare for the upcoming season.
Greenbrier offensive coordinator Rodney Holder discusses plays with his team during a scrimmage against Glenn Hills at North Augusta's passing camp on June 29.
Photo by Jonathan Heeter
Greenbrier, along with as many as 11 other schools, is participating in the North Augusta Passing Camp. The camp is believed to be one of the largest in the area's history.
"This camp allows us to see teams that we would never play against," said Greenbrier coach Mickey Derrick. "The team gets a look at so many different teams that run different styles of offense and defense."
The camps, which take place on Tuesday nights, have featured Laney, Lincoln County, Hephzibah, South Aiken, North Augusta, Academy of Richmond County, Josey, Glenn Hills, Aquinas, Silver Bluff, Cross Creek and Greenbrier.
The event began June 8 and has run on consecutive Tuesdays finishing up on July 13. The camp won't take place on July 6 because of the July 4 holiday.
"This is great for our kids," said Greenbrier offensive coordinator Rodney Holder. "It is great to see how our kids respond to teams that play real physical."
Laney and Glenn Hills are two teams that play very physical football, and playing against them has benefited the Wolfpack, Derrick said.
The Wolfpack had a tough scrimmage with Glenn Hills on Tuesday. The Spartans' players barked out taunts at the Greenbrier offense, hoping to rattle the Wolfpack.
"I think it is great when one of these practices gets physical," Holder said. "You really get to see how some of the younger guys will respond."
Greenbrier receiver Eugene Rogers made a couple of acrobatic touchdown catches and had a few choice words to say heading back to the huddle.
"Those guys just want to talk," he said. "That just gets me pumped up. I can talk too."
Another test for Derrick's team was squaring off against North Augusta standout receiver C.J. Byrd. The Yellow Jackets senior has scholarship offers from more than 30 schools and is a consensus top 100 player nationally.
"He is an unbelievable talent," Derrick said. "Anytime we can face a player of that caliber, we enjoy it."
The Wolfpack have also received an early look at Lincoln County, an upcoming opponent, during the camp.
On Sept. 10, the Wolfpack will travel to Lincolnton to meet up with the Red Devils. Lincoln County has won more than a dozen state championships in school history.
"Those boys look like they play for the University of Georgia when they get off the bus," Derrick said.