Pioneers benefit from camps
Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2008
GENTRY ó Though now in the two-week dead period where coaches and players have no practices, the Pioneers attended some very profitable football camps before the period began.
The offensive line attended a one-day camp at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M on June 14, where they drilled and practiced blocking for pass and run plays.
Eighteen of the teamís core players ó mostly varsity ó attended a camp at Har-Ber High School in Springdale on June 12.
The camp helped players work on position skills, head coach Brian Little said. Linemen worked on pass protection and run blocking.
The Pioneer squad played 7-on-7 against other area squads from Clarksville, Prairie Grove, West Fork and two mostly sophomore squads from Har-Ber. They also participated in 4-yard competition and 11-on-11, practicing for lastdown and short-yardage situations.
The team scrimmaged in playaction packages against other schools and did well.
ì We competed well overall, î Little said. ì We have a strong offensive line and a quick defensive line. î
In the campís afternoon competition, the Pioneers competed in a round-robin competition against the other squads. Each offense was given four downs from the 10-yard line. A teamís offense scored one point for each touchdown, and the defense one point for touchdown drives stopped.
At the end of the competition, the two teams with the most points played head-to-head for the championship, starting with the ball at the 20-yard line.
Some of the players remembered the tough competition last year, Little said, and they didnít expect to make the final championship round. But the Gentry squad scored against every defensive opponent and the defense stopped one drive.
It was West Fork against Gentry in the final round.
ì We flipped a coin and Gentry played defense first, î Little said. ì West Fork scored and made the extra point, making it 7-0, î he said.
ì We scored, too, î Little said, ìbut we went for two ó for the win instead of the tie ó and we were stopped. We lost 7-6. î
ì It was a great day for the players, î Little said. ì We got tons of reps. The kids competed well and their confidence improved. î
Little attributes the overall improvement of the squad to the weight training during the offseason and the playersí familiarity with the program.
The dead period ends Saturday, June 28, and the players return to the weight room the following Monday morning.
They begin 7-on 7- play on July 7 and will compete in the Battle on the Border at Gravette on July 19. Regular practice begins July 28.
The Pioneer Football Camp for players in grades 4-6 was held June 9-11.
Turnout was a little lower than expected, Little said, possibly because the camp was held earlier in the summer than last year. But the camp turned out well.
Rain dampened the opening day of the camp, and players had to practice inside. They practiced and drilled on fundamentals outside on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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