HUNTINGDON FOOTBALL RETURNS TO PRACTICE MODE AFTER BACK-TO-BACK SCRIMMAGES

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A two-hour session on Sunday marked the final practice for the Huntingdon Hawks before school starts on Monday.

Following two days of scrimmages, the Hawks weren't as crisp as head coach Mike Turk wanted. But he said it was an important step in adjusting to in-season practices.

"It was a little bit of a letdown today, after two very intense scrimmages," Turk said of the veterans' scrimmage with Mississippi College on Friday and a first-year player scrimmage on Saturday. "Today, being the first day back, we didn't have the energy and enthusiasm we normally have. But that's all part of the process of getting ready.

"One of the purposes of this practice was to get us ready for school mode. School starts on Monday and we'll be practicing in the afternoon from now on. It's a change in routine with a different set of challenges and we're trying to start adapting."

Senior defensive back Justin Brown said the team held a meeting after practice to discuss the importance of making each practice count.

"We talked about how we've got to keep working and how we have to come out here and get better each day," Brown said. "There is a lot of unity on this team and we have a lot of leaders on this team. We know we need to seize the day, not lose the day."

Turk said the Hawks are counting on Brown and fellow senior Keith Anthony to set the tone in the secondary. Brown and Anthony are the only returning starters in the defensive backfield, but the coaches like the potential they see in several first-year players.

"We have some young guys that are coming along. There are guys like George Johnson," Turk said of the freshman from G.W. Carver.  "We've seen George making a lot of plays. He's young and he's still making some mistakes, but he looks like he is far enough along to help us out this year.

"There are some talented guys in that class. We're going to need some help from them in a hurry, so it's encouraging to see them making progress."  

Brown said he is also excited about what he has seen out of the younger defensive backs.

 "They are working hard," Brown said. "We keep stressing to them that they have to step up to the challenge and be ready to work each day. We need them to be ready to step out on the field with us this season."

The Hawks have Monday off from practice and will return to practice on Tuesday. Huntingdon will hold its final preseason scrimmage on Wednesday.