Published: August 18, 2008 10:21 pm            

HS FOOTBALL: It's back to work for area teams

Are you ready for some football?

The answer was a resounding yes at high schools throughout the Tonawandas and Kenmore on Monday, as the 2008 season got started with the first official practice.

“It’s an exciting time of year for everybody,” NT coach Eric Jantzi said after his team completed the second of two practice sessions. “It’s good to be back.”

Coming off a Class AA North championship in 2007, the Lumberjacks will have plenty of questions to answer in the upcoming weeks, including who will take over at quarterback for the graduated Keith Bogdan. While the depth chart has yet to sort itself out, Jantzi and his coaching staff were pleased to see his players report in good shape.

“We’re putting in plays and working on fundamentals,” he said. “We’re right into league play (at the beginning of the season), so we have to be ready to come out of the gun.”

About 100 players from the varsity and junior varsity hit the practice field at NT. Over at Clinton Small Stadium, it was a new beginning for the Tonawanda Warriors. New coach Jason Beckman conducted his first official practice after being hired in April, replacing the departed Chuck Tilley.

“We did some speed and agility testing, things like that,” Beckman said. “We’re just trying to get guys in the right spot.”

Though Beckman is new as the head coach, he previously served as an assistant under Tilley, so he already knows a good deal of the players he’ll have on the varsity squad.

“I have the benefit of having been here in the past, so that makes the evaluation process easier,” he said.

All local teams hit the practice fields for the first time as a complete team Monday, most wearing shorts, shirts and helmets. Most teams will add full equipment without contact Thursday, with full contact allowed by the state beginning Saturday.

While everyone was excited to be back on the field, it was also clear that most were also looking forward to the games.

“To be honest, it’s nice to have that first day over,” Kenmore West coach Rich Harris said.

Contact editor Jay Skurski at 693-1000, ext. 117.

        

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