Bearcats gearing up for Aug. 26 opener
Published 12:28 pm Friday, July 22, 2011
JUNIOR RUNNING BACK Damian Bouie reaches low to catch a pass from senior quarterback Quincy Fortson during the July 13 passing camp at BHS. Bouie is one of three fast, experienced backs the Bearcats will look to find success with this season.
The Bainbridge High School Bearcats and other Georgia High School Association football teams can officially go into pads on Monday, August 1.
In anticipation of that day, Ccach Ed Pilcher’s Bearcats have been running through various drills in shorts on the practice field to build their speed, stamina and agility, working out in the weight room to build their strength and competing in passing camps against other area teams.
After a home passing camp against Thomasville on Wednesday, July 13, the Bearcats traveled to Cairo Thursday to compete in a six team passing camp that also included the host Cairo High School Syrupmakers, Thomas County Central, Valdosta, Ga., Wakulla, Fla., and Chiles, Leon and Godby High Schools of Tallahassee, Fla.
SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK Preston Norris throws a pass during a passing camp against Thomasville High School on July 13.
Next Thursday, July 28, the Bearcats will be hosting a passing camp at 4:30 p.m. at their on-campus practice field.
Visiting teams will be Cairo, Thomas County Central, Chiles and Leon of Tallahassee, Fla., Eufaula, Ala., Northview of Dothan, Ala. and Abbeville, Ala.
Coach Pilcher said he thought quarterbacks Quincy Fortson and Preston Norris both threw the ball well in Cairo and receivers Rashad Kelly A.J. Miller and Cameron McDowell all caught the ball well.
SENIOR QUARTERBACK Quincy Fortson drops back to pass during the July 13 passing camp at BHS.
“Rashad Kelly was our most consistent receiver in Cairo,” coach Pilcher said.“I also thought senior free safety Rodney Glenn did a good job defending the pass.”
Offensive returnees for the Bearcats include junior linemen Cole Granato, Madison Malone and Andrzej Jeglinski.
Jeglinski could also be doing the long snapping for punts and place kicks.
One of the key returning defensive starters is senior tackle Shamai Wilburn, who was a second team All-Region 1AAAA selection by the region coaches a year ago.
In 2010, Wilburn had 29 tackles, three tackles for loss, eight quarterback pressures, one quarterback sack and one caused fumble.
With the graduation of All-Region 1AAAA place kicker Keenan Adams, sophomore Daniel Provence, who took over the place kicking duties when Adams suffered a season ending knee injury in the second game of the 2010 season, returns following a good freshman season.