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South Effingham, Effingham County football set for acclimation period before adding pads

GUYTON — Summer camp ended for the South Effingham and Effingham County football teams last Thursday. Preparation for the high school season now follows the Georgia High School Association calendar.

A heat and humidity acclimation period began July 25. Players have to complete five practices during this period before moving on to workouts in full pads (helmets, shoulder pads and padded pants) on Aug. 1.

“There’s always so much to do at this time of the year, but it’s exciting with the anticipation,” SEHS head football coach Nathan Clark said. “Everybody has put in a lot of work. Everyone is confident. We feel excited about the upcoming season.”

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A South Effingham High School football player tries to cool off during a recent summer workout. A GHSA five-day heat and humidity acclimation period for players began July 25.
A South Effingham High School football player tries to cool off during a recent summer workout. A GHSA five-day heat and humidity acclimation period for players began July 25.

Effingham County head coach John Ford had similar enthusiasm.

“All the summer stuff is over, all the 7-on-7s, all the other stuff, and it’s time to put your head down and go to work,” Ford said. “You’ll be playing somebody for real within a couple of weeks.”

Clark and the Mustangs open on the road at Vidalia on Aug. 19 while Ford and the Rebels kick off at Richmond Hill.

Both SEHS and ECHS players and coaches have been busy lately, and things only get busier when academics get thrown into the equation. Pre-planning meetings begin for teachers July 27. The first day of school is Aug. 4.

Clark and Ford said summer workouts provided a good base for the preseason. About four times a week in the mornings, athletes lift weights before running drills (without contact) outside in shorts and helmets.

But coaches see their players wearing full pads differently.

South Effingham football coach Nathan Clark talks to his team after a practice in a past season.
South Effingham football coach Nathan Clark talks to his team after a practice in a past season.

“Obviously, you see who can block and who can tackle and who can finish plays,” Clark said. “You get some of that in padded camps, but now running backs will have the opportunity to break tackles and quarterbacks have to elude pressure knowing they could get hit. And the defense can take them to the ground. You’re going to know a lot more about your team once they put on pads.”

The Mustangs competed in a padded camp (helmets, shoulder pads, with thud contact and no tackling to the ground) at Tift County on June 29-30 just before the dead week and had another padded workout at Camden County on July 18-19.

“We had four different sessions (at Camden), three times out on the field, and I thought we did well in two of them,” Clark said. “One, we stunk it up and weren’t very good, but we rallied in the afternoon. We showed we could do some good things when we executed. Playing teams like Camden, Charlton County and Ware, when you have success, it really builds some confidence. But teams like that can also expose your weaknesses.”

Effingham County football coach John Ford addresses his team after a practice in a past summer.
Effingham County football coach John Ford addresses his team after a practice in a past summer.

ECHS went to Bleckley County for a two-day padded camp on July 13-14. The Rebels lined up for 50-minute games of 65 to 70 plays, Ford said, against highly regarded programs Northside Warner Robins, Fitzgerald, Houston County and Thomasville.

“(The strong competition) threw us in deep water and we learned something about ourselves,” Ford said. “I was pleased with the mentality we showed because those were some long, hot days.”

There are more hot days ahead. SEHS and ECHS will get tests in Aug. 12 scrimmages. The Mustangs travel to Southeast Bulloch, while the Rebels are on the road at Screven County.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: South Effingham and Effingham County football teams prepare for season