BHS spring game photos by Peg Fredi

Teams only get two weeks in pads between Aug. 1 and Week 0 openers

By CAROL STUART
For Brentwood Home Page
Brentwood, Ravenwood and Brentwood Academy high school football teams can hit the practice field again starting Monday, but they won't be able to suit up in pads until Aug. 1.

With the way the scheduling falls this year, that leaves BHS and BA only two weeks of practice in pads before their opening games in what is called Week 0. And, on top of that, Brentwood High has moved its game at Cookeville up a day to Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m., to appear on the Thursday Night Lights televised game.

Chudi Echetebu returns at running back for BHS.

"It's going to be difficult but all teams are on the same page," Bruins Coach Ron Crawford said. "I'm most concerned about getting acclimated to pads and contact -- is it enough time? And we have to be conscious of too much contact cause any early injury will be difficult to overcome."

Last year there was a three-week window between the start of real practices and Week 0 opening games.

"I think it will hamper our performance early," said BA Coach Ralph Potter. "It will certainly make it more difficult to evaluate our own players in a timely manner."

RHS doesn't open until Aug. 26, which should benefit new head coach Joe Rietveld and his staff with the extra week.

The area teams will use the next three weeks in shorts to work on offensive and defensive schemes, including in some 7-on-7 passing tournaments.

BHS, RHS and BA are all looking to replace quarterbacks and didn't settle on anybody during the short spring practice period.

Bruins look for QB, add couple of new coaches

Bruins rising junior Austin Winfree and sophomore Aaron Maher were among quarterback candidates who missed part of the BHS spring practices while playing baseball.

BHS Coach Ron Crawford

Maher, a lefty, threw for 107 yards on 7-of-8 passing for the Blue team in the spring game. Gold starter Winfree threw for 70 yards, and sophomore QB Austin Wells was the leading rusher as backup for the Gold. Clay Webber graduated after 2-1/2 seasons under center.

"We did not come out of spring with a QB starter but have it narrowed to two young men and found a possibility among our sophomore class as well," Crawford said.

Brentwood also has a couple of staff changes, with defensive backs coach Alex Melton leaving for the defensive coordinator spot at Marshall County. Former Centennial and Fairview head coach Mark Matykiewicz was hired to coach outside linebackers and former Franklin Road Academy assistant Pat Curran will coach the DBs.

"We will be working 7-on-7 skill kids the next few weeks at MBA, MTSU and Marshall County along with working against ourselves," Crawford said. "This will give some of the players a leg up as far as executing in our passing game and our perimeter defense.

"Once we put the pads on they still have to be able to execute with contact."

The Bruins have practice blocks of 4-7 p.m. on July 11-12, 14-15 and 18-19. The MTSU 7-on-7 is July 16, and the Marshall County one on July 21. BHS starts two-a-days in helmets, shorts and tees on July 25-28 at 7-9:15 a.m. and 4-6:30 p.m. There will be only a 7-9:15 a.m. session on July 29, also BHS football media day.

BHS goes in pads on Aug. 2-3 with two-a-days, with only a morning session on Aug. 4, followed by a home scrimmage with Oakland at 6 p.m., Aug. 5. A road scrimmage is set for Aug. 9 at Hendersonville, and the Bruins will play in a jamboree at Siegel after the first full day of school on Aug. 12.

Two juniors in running as BA No. 1 quarterback

BA Coach Ralph Potter

At Brentwood Academy, the Eagles will participate in next weekend's Vanderbilt passing tournament. BA, who had a one-year starter graduate last year, also didn't name a first-team QB after spring practice.

Two juniors, Nick Givens and Max Staver, will compete for the job, Potter said. The Eagles' first game is at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at home against Trinity, Ky.

"We can work on our passing game and defensive alignments and adjustment," the  BA coach said about the next three weeks before practices in pads.

RHS plans Midnight Madness at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 1

Ravenwood will install its offense and defense under Rietveld during an eight-day period the next two weeks, Mondays-Thursdays. This is their third coach in four years (and four if you count the short off-season tenure of Coach Del Smith).

RHS Coach Joe Rietveld

The Raptors also will participate in the MTSU 7-on-7 passing tourney on July 16.

Rising senior Harrison Johnson is among players returning as quarterbacks on the depth chart, while lacrosse standout Harry Taylor has been in the mix with several other candidates.

RHS will hold its media day on July 30, followed by a Midnight Madness practice at 12:01 a.m.-1:30 a.m. on Aug. 1 to ring in the first day in pads.

Ravenwood will then go to team camp at Tennessee Tech Aug. 2-6, scrimmaging Northeast the final day. The Raptors open the season at BGA at 7 p.m. Aug. 26, then play District 11-AAA foe Hillsboro in their home-opener at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2.