SPORTS

Prep football teams begin spring practice

Cody Futrell cfutrell@thenewsstar.com

Area high school football programs in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association begin spring football practice Monday.

For 10 days, teams hit the practice field to evaluate and improve before getting into their summer workout programs.

For several area schools, football teams are dealing with crossover from baseball season that will keep some players out of spring practice.

West Monroe, Neville, West Ouachita, Sterlington, Ouachita Christian, Cedar Creek, and Oak Grove are area schools with football programs still in the baseball playoffs.

Many coaches in the area do not see the players missing spring practice for the baseball playoffs in a negative light.

“These young men have one chance to play any sport they can in high school,” West Ouachita coach Joey Pender said. “I hope our baseball team goes all the way to the championship. No kid will lose a starting spot or a backup role because of that. It gives younger guys a chance to get more reps in practice and I know what those returning guys can do.”

A lot of time in spring practice is spent evaluating talent for the fall. It is a time to see where some players fit in to plans for the upcoming season.

Neville coach Mickey McCarty went through spring practice last season without several starters including quarterback J.T. Jackson yet went on to win the Class 4A championship.

“Our baseball team is again certainly in the thick of the bracket,” McCarty said. “We aren’t playing anyone next week. (For younger players) it is a big asset to any player to get those extra reps.”

St. Frederick coach Jeff Tannehill has some players on the track and golf team that will be competing this week.

“We just keep working through,” Tannehill said. “We get guys out there more opportunities while others are out.”

Mangham coach Tommy Tharp will put his team through spring practice with a focus on finding a couple of young players who can help the Dragons continue to stay in the upper echelon.

The Dragons have been state runner-up the past two seasons.

“We use (spring practice) to maybe find a player that has come along a little bit and can help us,” Tharp said. “We work a lot with wide receiver and defensive backs, because of the passing, 7-on-7 in the summer.”

Mangham will also be working Kylye Barefield at quarterback this fall. Barefield has played several positions including running back, wide receiver and defensive back but has sparingly been used under center.

Connect with Cody on Twitter @cfutrellTNS or via e-mail cfutrell@thenewsstar.com