Flames, Tigers staying busy at offseason camps
Lodi and Tokay are taking different approaches toward preparing for the upcoming prep football season.
Along with plenty of weight lifting that started for the Flames and Tigers last winter, they have also participated in football camps in and out of the area. This is all leading up to the dead period that begins July 10 through July 30. Then on July 31, high school football teams in the SacJoaquin Section can begin practices with a week of conditioning drills.
Lodi coach Robert Sperling, returning for his fifth season, and his Flames are looking to erase last year’s 2-8 season with a 1-4 record in the Tri-City Athletic League. That starts with the basics, including getting stronger, and building endurance.
“We’re working on the fundamentals such as conditioning,” Sperling said. “We’re practicing and focused on the fundamentals.”
Sperling said that the Flames are planning to take part at one day nonpadded and non-contact football camp at UC Davis. The camp is handled by new UC Davis football coach Dan Hawkins and his coaching staff.
“With the varsity guys, we’re taking them to that camp,” Sperling said. “We went last year and we really like them. They break down position by position. Plus, this gives them a chance to meet college coaches.”
Part of the Flames’ workouts includes auditioning quarterbacks who will run the team’s triple-option offense. Last season, Jake Hayes and Chase Howell split time in the preseason. Hayes, now a senior, returns but Howell, a junior, has transferred to Tokay. Howell ran the offense most of the time when TCAL action start-
ed last fall.
Along with Hayes, three other quarterbacks are vying for action in the Flames’ offense, Sperling noted. That includes Justin Blake, who ran the offense on the Lodi frosh-soph squad last fall, and Tyler Rowlands, who Sperling calls “a nice surprise” who also played on the Flames’ frosh-soph team last year. Rowlands was one of the starters on the Lodi boys golf team that captured a share of the TCAL title last spring. Rounding out the list is freshman Ike Bishop.
“We want it to be competition, and the competition has been good,” Sperling said. “They are getting better every day. This builds healthy competition. We want a guy that is a leader, a linebacker playing quarterback ... a tough, hard-nose quarterback. He’s got to be able to run the ball and make quick decisions.”
Tokay has been very active in its preparations for the upcoming season. The Tigers recently finished 7on-7 games at the Thursday Night Lights at Cosumnes Oaks High of Elk Grove. Galt and Liberty Ranch also competed at the non-padded and non-contact sessions.
Last week, Tokay made the twohour drive to South Lake Tahoe High to compete at the Lake Tahoe Football Camp. The camp is run by former Tokay football coach and athletic director Louis Franklin, who took over the Vikings’ program after the 2014 season with the Tigers. The camp is one of three that Lake Tahoe is conducting until next month.
At that camp, Tokay coach Michael Holst, his assistant coaches and the frosh-soph and freshmen football teams competed in non-padded and non-contact drills. Linemen and linebackers were kept busy competing in various speed and strength drills.
All work, but the Tigers and other schools competing also took part in a fun event called the Beach Bash Competition.
Earlier this month, Tokay also took part in its first non-padded and non-contact camp at Sacramento State.