Calhoun hosts Sonoraville, other area teams for twoday, 7-on-7 passing camp,
Several teams from North Georgia got some quality work in on their passing game and passing defense this week at Calhoun’s 7-on-7 Camp as each of them make a final push before starting official Fall practice in a few weeks.
Calhoun hosted 10 different teams from around the area with a few bringing varsity and JV groups for a two-day passing camp this week at the Calhoun Riverpark Soccer Complex. Among the teams in attendance along with the host Jackets was Sonoraville.
Calhoun coach Hal Lamb said he was pleased overall with how the camp ran.
“Everything went smoothly other than the heat,” said Lamb. “Everyone was pleased with the number of reps they were able to get in for the two days, and that’s the biggest thing this time of year is getting in the reps. That’s what we do it for.”
“For us specifically, it was a good two days of work. Any time you get on the grass and get to coach a little is a positive. To see the different styles of offense and defense we saw in these two days will really help us in the long run. Our kids got better these last two days, and it was a positive experience for us.”
The camp ran from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. each day and was broken up into several sessions per day as teams rotated and got looks against different teams. Both Calhoun and Sonoraville had a varsity and a JV group competing, and Model and Adairsville also had two groups apiece. Along with those, the remaining teams attending camp were Darlington, Trion, Fannin, Gilmer, Woodland and Chattooga.
Sonoraville coach Jim Kremer said his Phoenix had a quality two days of work close to home.
“This is a good camp for us to come to because it’s close, and Coach Lamb and his staff run a great camp,” said Kremer. “Any time you can get some good reps in, especially for the older and younger kids, we want to take advantage of it. Now it’s time to take what we’ve worked on here and put it together with the running game.
Kremer added that the diversity of looks his team saw over the two days will only benefit them as they prepare for the season.
“We saw everything from Wing-T to the Spread, and we saw some different looks defensively as well,” said Kremer. “That’s good for us because we’ll see a lot of different things during our season.”
At the end of the second day of camp on Thursday, the players and coaches got to hear from special guest speaker Chuck Harris with the FCA. Harris played at Dalton High and went on to play at the University of Georgia in the mid1970s. His message to the players and coaches was about playing with great effort and attitude, but also playing for the right reasons and with the right mindset based on faith in Christ.
Kremer said the camp was one of the final pieces of his team’s summer program that has been going on since the start of June that consisted of workouts, conditioning, passing exhibitions, camps and more. He said now it’s about getting back together as a team and starting to prepare for the season ahead.
“Our offensive and defensive lineman and linebackers went to camp, and our quarterbacks, receivers and running backs went to a camp and did a lot of passing work so now it’s time to put it all together,” said Kremer, who will enter his third season as head coach of the Phoenix this Fall. “What I’m most pleased with is the kids have been coming all summer, and they’ve been on time.
“That’s 99 percent of the job during the summer is getting the kids to be committed to coming and believe. If they do that we’re going to be the best we can be.”
The Phoenix will begin official practice the final week of July before putting on full pads in early August. They play their preseason scrimmage at Gordon Central on Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m. before opening the regular season on Aug. 26 at home against Model. They are coming off three straight playoff appearances and their first state playoff win last season.
Calhoun will attend FCA Camp at Riverside Military on Monday and Tuesday this coming week before taking a few days off and then starting official practice on July 25. Lamb said his players are definitely ready to get things started for real.
“The grind is here,” said Lamb. “Once July 4 week is over, the grind really begins. I think our kids are ready to get out to practice and be finished with the summer lifting, conditioning, camps and all that stuff. They’re ready for the X’s and O’s and really getting ready for the season.
“Everyone starts to get really excited about football this time of year from coaches to players to fans. We’re looking forward to it.”
The Jackets will have their first padded practice on Aug. 1. They play their preseason scrimmage on Aug. 11 at home against Northwest Whitfield at 7:30 p.m. They open the regular season the following Friday, Aug. 19 at home against Douglass (Atlanta). The Jackets will be looking for their 16th straigh region title this season. They advanced to the Class AAA Final Four last season before falling to eventual state runner-up Blessed Trinity.
Gordon Central will open up practice in late July as well before their preseason scrimmage against the Phoenix on Aug. 12. They will open the regular season on Aug. 19 at Murray County at 7:30 pm..