By ANDREW CRUM
Staff Writer
It’s the last day for teams to play football without worrying about the scoreboard.
Today marks the second week for scrimmages, and for some, their only exhibition time before the regular season begins next week.
Rivera, Hanna, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, St. Joseph Academy, Los Fresnos and Port Isabel all are in action for the second week, hoping to sharpen up formations and take care of the details before Week 1.
“There’s a little difference (between the first and second scrimmages). We want to see if we’ve picked up the tempo in practice, that we’re starting to get our timing down,” St. Joseph coach Christian Putegnat said. “The first scrimmage is always chaotic. I’m just there to see what we’ve got, who’s in shape or not, who’s paying attention or who’s not. The film doesn’t lie.”
Lopez, Pace and Porter will see action during a scrimmage for the first time this season, as each participated in spring practices earlier this year. But that doesn’t mean they are behind schedule.
“I’m always willing to trade a good spring for a scrimmage. I think you get more out of those four days than you do in any of those scrimmages,” Porter coach Tom Campos said. “We implemented what we needed to get in.”
Campos feels the Cowboys are right where they need to be and are using the scrimmage as a dress rehearsal for the opening of the regular season.
“We’re pretty comfortable (with) what we’re doing offensively and defensively,” he said. “We just want to get a feel for some of the other guys. We’re going to treat it like a real game even though it’s a glorified practice, to polish up some things and get better at what we’re doing.”
For the young Bloodhounds, the second scrimmage is going to be another chance to make sure they’re ready for the season.
“I think it’s going good for a new group that is having to replace so many different positions. They are starting to pick things up,” Putegnat said. “I guess we’ll find out if I’m right (today). I’m pleased where we’re at. For being young, we’re all right.”
Putegnat sees the second scrimmage as the last chance to correct the little things.
“To make sure we have our timing down and nothing major to correct as we go into Week 1,” he said. “Come Monday, we’re putting the best 11 where they need to be, to solidify where we want kids at.”
Campos felt the benefits of spring practice were worth getting the team ready for the season without one additional scrimmage.
“Kids have bought in (to the program) during the spring, so right now we’re polishing up and implementing some new things that we can build on what we have established,” Campos said. “We’re more confident. Last year we came into the summer with barely enough at two-a-days, and this year we have everyone in.
“We had that time learning the system and are a lot better off than we were last year.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.