Passing league provides summer scrimmages

Football season hasn't officially started, but two Columbia County teams are getting valuable experience at the annual 7-on-7 passing league held weekly at North Augusta High School.

Both Augusta Christian and Greenbrier high schools are participating in the Tuesday-night league, which will last through June. Several Augusta teams, including Glenn Hills, Westside, Laney, Cross Creek and Aquinas, are participating as well.

"The biggest thing right now is making sure everybody knows their routes and where to line up," Greenbrier coach Scott Chadwick said. "It sounds basic, but that's where we're starting."

Chadwick, beginning his first season as Greenbrier's athletic director and head football coach, was without potential starting quarterback Nick Richards on Tuesday, but after surveying the talent and personnel for this fall's team he said the game plan is slowly coming together.

"Our biggest strength is that we have so many coachable kids. They're all eager to learn," Chadwick said. "With the type of kids we have we're probably going to throw the ball quite a bit."

Just across the practice field on Tuesday stood another team that likes to throw the ball. Augusta Christian won a SCISA AAA state title last season, in part, with the help of senior quarterback Lee Banks' arm.

With Banks' spot open, Tuesday's competition gave Lions coach Bruce Lane a chance to see both Tyler Bourdo and Josh McDaniels at the quarterback spot.

"Two years ago everybody wanted to know who was going to replace Adam McKinney. Lee came in and did a great job," Lane said. "You can't recruit, so you have to grow your own talent. We're trying to find our identity offensively."

Lane said he brought 40 potential Lions to compete in Tuesday night's passing league. With each team getting 12 minutes of offense and 12 minutes of defense per game, the four to five games played per night make for ideal scrimmages.

"This gives us an opportunity to look at some different things," Lane said. "It's the summer, and we're working on our two-minute no-huddle offense."

The passing league, now in its third year, is led by the CSRA Fellowship of Christian Athletes. FCA director Frank Hester offers a 10-minute devotion.

"It is FCA sponsored," Hester said. "It's not mandatory to participate in the devotions, but we want to expose them to the gospel."