HAWKS SET TO WRAP UP PRESEASON WITH SCRIMMAGE ON WEDNESDAY

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – It's not quite game week, but the Huntingdon football team will mark the end of preseason practice on Wednesday.

The Hawks' 4 p.m. scrimmage will cap 14 days of training camp. Game week begins on Monday and the Hawks travel to Maryville College to start the season on Sept. 3.

Head coach Mike Turk said he expects an intense end to training camp with several positions still up for grabs.

"We're not holding back on Wednesday," Turk said. "We're taking the handcuffs off the defense and letting them blitz and stunt and we'll probably let the offense do a few things we haven't done a whole lot of yet.

"This scrimmage is going to be about making some decisions on some guys. We've got some tough decisions to make up front and at receiver, but we've got to start focusing on who is going to be playing when we get to Maryville next week. The races at some of the positions are close and they're going to be hard to call, but now is the time that we have to make those decisions."

Turk said he hopes to run about 50 snaps with the first team, 50 snaps with the second team and also work the third team into the mix.

One position Turk feels good about going into the scrimmage, and the season, is quarterback. Junior Neal Posey is at the top of the depth chart, followed by sophomores Ryne Taylor, Zach Welch and Jay LeGrand.

"We probably have more overall depth at that position right now than we have ever had," Turk said. "Posey and Taylor pretty much separated themselves from the rest last spring and they've remained at the front during preseason. But Zach and Jay have done some good things for us too. It's difficult, because they don't get as many reps, but Zach has made the most of his opportunities and he looks like a solid No. 3 right now. Jay did not go through the spring because he was playing baseball, so he is a little more behind. But he has some ability and he has proven that he can execute the offense."

Posey, a former Macon-East standout, appeared in seven games last season and led Huntingdon to three wins in three starts. For the season, he passed for 695 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions.

"Neal is the clear No. 1 and he will go into the season as the starter," Turk said. "But there is no question that Ryne is the next guy. I've been pleased with Ryne's progress. He has learned what we're doing and he has a good grasp of it. He's a talented guy and he makes good decisions. He has provided good competition for Neal."