County High School Football Action
Gets Underway Saturday Morning
With "Heated" Scrimmages

by: Bobby McDonald

 

With three weeks of practice "under their belts," all three Hopkins County high school football teams began action on Saturday morning, with hosted scrimmages against area teams. The structured scimmages allowed players to get a feel for the game and allowed the coaches to assess the fundamentals that they had taught during training sessions. And, all of it was conducted in a "heated" environment as the temperature hovered near the century mark and made for frequent water breaks and an increased amount of sports drink consumption, on the sidelines.

 

"The Sunshine Girls"........Clara Smith and Mary Jo Beck, grandmothers
of Wildcat football players, K.C. Smith and Jeffrey Beck, had the right idea, as
they protected themselves from the blistering sun, beneath large umbrellas,
in the stands, at Wildcat Stadium.

 

 

The Sulphur Springs Wildcats began their scimmage game at 8:30 a.m., in hopes of "beating the heat," but soon players were asking for "plenty of water" as the temperatures escalated and action began.

 

 

Frequent breaks were necessary and plenty of fluids were consumed in an effort to "stay cool!"

 

The Wildcats hosted neighboring Greenville, in Gerald Prim Stadium and saw some very positive things, as well as some plays that must be "fine-tuned" before the actual first game. The Wildcats will travel to Terrell, next Saturday, for a second scrimmage, and then will play McKinney High on September 1st, there, in the first real game of the season.

 

Wildcat Quarterback Britain Diamond looks down-field for a receiver, in Saturday morning action.

 

Wildcat coaches, Martin Bryant and Rob Shipley discuss an upcoming play with two of the varsity
Wildcat players, at Saturday morning's scrimmage.

 

Members of the Wildcat varsity team watch closely as the JV team
is on the field against Greenville.

 

New Head Wildcat Coach and Athletic Director, Greg Owens, discusses a play with the Wildcat offense.

 

A large crowd of parents, supporters, and fans, braved the heat on Saturday, to watch the Wildcats in action.

Meanwhile, to the east of Sulphur Springs, at Eagle Stadium, beside Como-Pickton School, and "inter-county" rivalry was unfolding, as the Cumby Trojans and the host Como-Pickton Eagles participated in a 10:00 a.m. scrimmage with Harmony. The three teams alternated their offense and defensive units to allow breaks for the players, in the sweltering heat, and fans got a "first-time" look at the 2006 teams.

 

The Cumby Trojan Offense "takes aim" at the Como-Pickton Eagle Defense.

 

Como-Pickton Senior, Alex Mowat, takes a break in the action, as the Cumby team is on the field
against Harmony.

 

 

And, the quarterback and center practice their coordination from the sidelines.

 

Cumby meets Harmony, on the field.

 

And, watches closely, while Como-Pickton tries their hand at the Harmony
Offense.

 

These Cumby Trojans take a well-deserved break, on the bench, once their time on the field is completed.

 

Umbrellas were quite popular, in the stands, at Como-Pickton, too, as the temperatures soared!

 

And, back at Gerald Prim Stadium, in Sulphur Springs, the Wildcat Booster Club had a "hot" job
of cooking hamburgers for the visiting Greenville Lions team!

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