A look at spring football

A look at spring football

By MELISSA BURNSED

People around North Florida are interested in high school football no matter what time of year it is. For the true fans of the Friday night gridiron game, spring practice is a time to get a glimpse at who might be their teams next big play maker.

Coaches are focused on filling holes left by graduating seniors. Introducing new players to their system and instilling in them the principles of fierce competitive team spirit and unity are usually points stressed.

For veteran coaches the four week window, allowed by FHSAA rules, is critical time not to be wasted. There is an old coach’s adage that says, what you burn repetitively into their brains in spring is stuff they aren’t likely to forget in the fall.

Practice started May 1 and at Baker, Baldwin, Bradford and Union County coaches and players are already hard at work. Earlier this week all four team head coaches gave brief interviews 

Head Coach Bobby Johns (kneeling)checks out the team.

about how their squads are shaping up.

Baker County

Coach Bobby Johns has more than 120 players on his practice field in Glen St. Mary. "We have a big group that includes fifty or so eighth graders. My coaches are trying to teach everyone the fundamentals of stance, blocking and proper tackling techniques," he said.

Coach Johns doesn’t believe in having a spring opponent, preferring to let his crew go at it in a game scrimmage.

 

Baker County players get their instructions.

"The advantage in not playing anybody is we can focus on learning as much as  we can everyday and not have to hurry to get ready for a game. The disadvantage is you don’t get to see how your team does against somebody else. I think it’s worth it to get that time to focus on fundamentals."

The Wildcats Red and White scrimmage is scheduled for May 24, with the junior varsity hitting the field first at 6:00 pm.

 

Baldwin

Coach Andy Giddens works his players.

Coach Andy Giddens has around seventy student athletes on the field behind the high school in downtown Baldwin. "That number includes the eighth graders as well as our other grades. They get to practice with us instead of separately  because we are all housed in the same facility. That’s a big advantage allowed under FHSAA rules. We also have a lot of returning players from last years team," he said.

Giddens added, "We have a long way to go, but everybody looks good. The real test is how they look in pads. Basic fundamentals are our primary focus. Teaching the new kids our base plays and 

The Indians take a short break.

package are two key components we have to get in."

The Indians will hit the road for their spring game against Saint Joseph’s Academy, in St. Augustine on May 22 at 7:00 pm. For fans unable to make  the trip, the Baldwin boys will also play a scrimmage at home on May 29.

Bradford

Coach Steve Hoard is working with sixty varsity players and will bolster his numbers when the eighth graders come out. "We are very young this year, with a lot of ninth and tenth graders. Only five returning players are with us this spring. They are good kids with character and that makes it enjoyable for the whole coaching staff," he said.

Bradford Coach Steve Hoard (in black shirt) gets his team back to basics.

"Because we have almost an entire new slate of coaches in the fall, we aren’t going to get very elaborate with what we teach the players. Instead we will go with basic blocking and tackling instruction. We will try and find who’s ready to step up and who’s not there yet."

Tornado fans will get to assess their hometown favorites, when the Bishop Kenny Crusaders come to Starke for a spring showdown on May 20 at 7:00 pm. Coach Hoard will use the last few days allowed for practice after that to hone in on any key problems that his coaches see in the scrimmage game.

The Tornadoes get some last minute instructions before getting down to practice.

Union

Coach Andrew Zow has a young group of sixty-five ninth through twelfth grade players on the fields in Lake Butler.

"They were a little anxious on their first day in pads. We are going to be okay, but we aren’t anywhere near where we want to be yet. This is my second year coaching this team and the other coaches and I are trying to get the kids used to me, my coaching style and system," he said.

"Learning our coordinators new defensive scheme will be one of our top priorities. But our main focus will be working hard and making sure the kids learn the core offense and defense. I also want to keep the kids healthy as we head into summer conditioning."

The Tigers start practice with a bang.

The Tigers will travel take the bus to Hawthorne for their spring jamboree on May 29 at 7:30 pm.

 

Union County Coach Andrew Zow (blue shirt) directs his team during Monday's practice.