Practice kicks off for football
Marty Jackson knows he will find out about his team this week.
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Lakeside football players gather on the field for practice Monday. Frequent water breaks are needed to combat the intense summer heat and humidity.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
The Evans coach said he was excited about the season but he knows that his inexperienced players have to step up since most of his key offensive players graduated.
That, Jackson said, is what this week is all about.
High school football returned from an eight-month hiatus on Monday, the first day the Georgia High School Association allows practice.
"I get excited every year for football practice beginning," said Jackson. "When I get out there, and it doesn't matter how many years that I've done it, I still get like a little kid."
Lakeside coach Randy Hill said the anticipation of Monday built up all summer.
"You wait all summer for this chance," said Hill. "It is a feeling that is hard to explain."
Hill's Panthers were the only team to practice in the morning, going from 8 a.m. until noon each day.
Evans, Harlem and Greenbrier all scheduled early evening practices for this week.
Lakeside High School head coach Randy Hill runs his team through practice drills at the school in Evans.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"The heat is intense," said Jackson. "We start really early. We'll have three games done by Labor Day."
This week's practices are conducted in helmets only, with full contact and two-a-day practices beginning next week.
Harlem, Lakeside and Evans will have "Midnight Madness" practices at 12:01 a.m. Monday morning. Last year, rain canceled the Evans and Lakeside midnight practice.
"The midnight practices are great for the kids and the fans, and the coaches," said Harlem coach Jimmie Lewis. "We always look forward to that practice."
Most schools will hold two scrimmages, and the regular season will begin on Aug. 19.
By South Carolina Independent Schools Association rules, Augusta Christian cannot practice until next week.
The Lions will go to team camp at Rock Eagle in Eatonton, Ga.