A weekly tour inside the huddle of the area football teams.
SITTING STAR
Head coach Chad Frazier said that senior wide receiver/ corner back/ game-breaker Garry Peters might sit out more than one game as punishment for a behavioral issue. Whether that includes next week’s scrimmage against Eastside remains to be seen. Peters, rated as a top-15 cornerback nationally and a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, is a key part of the Patriots’ offensive gameplan as well. The player Frazier calls, "the best athlete I’ve ever coached," is also the team’s top receiver.COMING ALONG
The Rockdale County Bulldogs are in the midst of a competitive fall practice, and head coach Michael Etheridge likes it that way. "We are really looking at a lot of guys, and putting them here and there to see what works," he said. Etheridge also knows that competition is the best recipe for success, saying that he’ll make it a policy all season to go with, "the best dog for the fight." One player he’s particularly pleased with is junior safety Neville Hewitt, who he looks to as one of his defensive leaders and standout players. "Colleges are drooling all over this guy when they see him."
QUICK START
Salem’s early start to the 2009 season has its positives and negatives, according to head coach Chad Estes. Because of last night’s game, one of the earliest scrimmages in the state, the Seminoles’ preparation time was shortened. "The kids are doing the best they can," Estes said. And, thanks to the high heat index, Estes moved practices back and forth between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. start times. That meant his squad only had so many run-throughs with close to full pads and game situations. Still, the Seminoles camp is excited that football has finally come calling. "The guys are just really ready to hit somebody other than each other," Estes said.
