Cougars Battle Heat, Look to Opener

With the 2011 season opener now just a little more than a week away, the Piedmont Academy football team is moving into full preparation mode.

The Cougars, who host Brookwood on Friday, Aug. 19, began installing their game plan this week for the first opponent of the season. Each day of preparation is key, third-year Piedmont coach Rhett Farmer said.

“We are changing gears,” the coach said. “Our offense will get to look at something other than a base defense and our defense will get to work against something other than what our offense does.”
The Cougars are now preparing for Brookwood’s 4-4 defense and Wing-T offense.

“Of course, they could change what they do, but based on the film from last year and other scouting reports, we have an idea of what they will try to do against us,” Farmer said.

Like all high school football teams in the state, Piedmont coaches and officials are monitoring the heat closely. Last Wednesday’s final camp practice was cancelled because of the high temperatures and the coaches and players instead watched film.

“We have a strict heat policy,” Farmer said. “Our water girls are also at every practice and make sure the players have plenty of water. We give the players frequent breaks so we feel like we keep them hydrated.”

If the heat continues to be an issue Farmer said his players may go back to working in shorts and helmets.

‘For us, it’s not an issue of being physical but getting our schemes in,” the coach said. “That does not require full contact.”
Farmer did say this summer has been the roughest heat wise in his 15 years of coaching.

The temperature was slightly cooler the following evening as the Cougars held a practice and half-line scrimmage.

“We were able to do a little position work on both sides of the football,” Farmer said of Thursday’s workout. “We still have some question marks, especially on defense. We also have work to do on offense. Hopefully, we will be a team that improves over the course of the season. We are an average team at best right now. Every day is important as we prepare for Brookwood.”

Last week’s camp took a toll physically as several players were hobbling somewhat entering this week.

“We are sore and banged up after camp,” Farmer said. “Hopefully everyone can heal up and be able to contribute in week one.”