Pine Tree opens spring football drills today, two days later than head coach Tim Russell expected.
Russell initially planned to start spring drills Tuesday, but he decided to push the start date to after school Thursday so all TAKS testing would be finished. Nevertheless, Russell said the Pirates are ready.
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Jacob Croft Botter/News-Journal File Photo | Pine Tree's Alton Horton (8) is a candidate for the quarterback position as the Pirates kick off spring football drills today.
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"We have a lot of competition for a lot of spots. Trying to pick our team is very difficult until you get pads on," Russell said. "We have a whole bunch of guys that are in competition that have legitimate chances to get in the running for playing time, and that's what makes for good, exciting football practices."
Russell said spring practices will include at least one intrasquad scrimmage a week so the coaching staff can give ample opportunities to players who are still trying to prove that they deserve varsity playing time.
"We're wanting to give the guys that we haven't had on the varsity before a chance to earn their spots and make sure that we have them in the right spots," Russell said.
Quarterback is one of the spots with the most heated competition. Senior-to-be Alton Horton, juniors-to-be Tyler Kids and Matt Hamer and sophomore-to-be Brett McAfee are all in the mix under center. Horton is the only one with varsity experience at quarterback. Kids started all season at safety in 2007.
Dustin Farley started at quarterback last season, but is graduating.
"All those guys I feel really comfortable with right now. If we were playing a game tonight, just about any one of those guys could step in and take snaps for us," Russell said. "Each one of them has different strengths. Last year we had Dustin (Farley) start, but we'd bring Alton in and he did a good job. We know what he can do. He's only gotten better.
"Matt had a tremendous offseason. Tyler and Brett are both very versatile athletes that can run and throw. It'll be a really healthy competition. I look for all four to see playing time on the varsity."
Russell said Pine Tree will hold its first spring scrimmage Friday afternoon.
Notable
Kilgore head coach Mike Vallery said Monday he's decided to not hold spring football drills. "We think we're better off to get those earlier practices in August," Vallery said. If a program elects to not have spring practice, it can start a week earlier on Aug. 4.
Vallery, who originally intended to have spring practice, said having everyone healthy was a key issue in not conducting spring drills. Vallery would rather have everyone healed for the start of fall camp in August.
