Area high school football teams hit the practice field Friday in preparation for the upcoming season.
The first week of the high school regular season starts Aug. 20, so it gives the teams just a little over three weeks to get ready.
Practices are limited during the first few days with players wearing only shorts, pads and helmets. Players aren’t allowed to take part in contact drills until Aug. 3.
Down in the Devils Den, the defending class 1A division II champions Williston-Elko High got a taste of an early dew as the players took part in a 6 a.m. workout.
Williston-Elko High head coach Dwayne Garrick has guided the Blue Devils to back-to-back trips to the finals.
Garrick, who is in his fourth season at Williston-Elko High, said the start of the season feels the same as it did when he first started coaching 16 years ago.
“Some things never gets old,” Garrick said.
“There is a newness to every football season and a challenge that goes with it.”
For Garrick, the Blue Devils welcome back majority of the last year’s team, including six all-region players.
Garrick said the first practice was as expected—plenty of repetition.
“Right now, we are just trying to get back into the swing of things. We’ve been going over a lot of fundamentals and basic conditioning drills,” Garrick said.
Williston-Elko’s first scrimmage is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 6 at Edisto High School in Cordova.
The region jamboree will be Aug. 12 at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School in Norway.
The Blue Devils will play in the Aiken County jamboree Aug. 13. In the Hawks’ Nest more than 50 players turned out for the first day of drills Friday afternoon.
Most of the day was spent on fundamentals with an emphasis on execution on offense and well as defense.
“I thought we had a pretty good day for the first workout,” head coach David Berry said.
The Hawks return a solid nucleus of players, including senior quarterback Chris Kearse and halfbacks Jamel Dukes and Brenton Holiday.
“It’s a new season, so we have a lot of things we need to work on to improve as a team. The goal is to get better every practice and right now I like the effort I’m seeing,” said Berry.
The team will hold its first scrimmage Friday at Midland Valley High at 6 p.m. The Hawks will play a scrimmage at Swansea High Aug. 10. The region jamboree will be held Aug. 12 at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High.
In Warhorse country, Barnwell High had more than 60 players sprinting onto the field Friday morning.
Barnwell High head coach Ed Moore said he expects competitive practices.
“Nothing is a given here on this football team. Just because you’re a junior doesn’t mean you make the varsity team. Everything has to be earned,” Moore said.
Since taking over the program last April, new head coach Ed Moore has put emphasis on organization and hardwork. The team have had good attendance and positive work in the weight room since the conclusion of spring practice.
“It’s early, but I like the direction we’re going,” Moore said. “I thought our players came to practice well fit and in good condition. They are focused and ready to learn. So far except for a few minor injuries, we looked pretty good.”
Some of the players standing out with good performances includes quarterback Tyler Davis, tailbacks Patrick Green and Terry Williams, Kevin Washington and receiver Colton Nobles.
Barnwell High will play its first scrimmage Thursday at Gilbert High at 6 p.m. On Aug. 10, Barnwell scrimmage Hilton Head High in Barnwell. The region jamboree will be held Aug. 12 at Pelion High.