OPENING DAY: Sanders says Gators experience "best first day of practice" in his coaching tenure

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 2, 2016 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Ominous dark clouds drifted toward "The Swamp" as Spring Creek took the field for its first official football practice of the season Monday evening.

Ironically, it didn't rain.

The Gators got in about an hour of work before lightning caused a 30-minute interlude. Head coach Aaron Sanders and his staff had a difficult time herding the players into the gymnasium.

"They didn't want to go back inside," chuckled Sanders. "But with it being non-contact time, we were able to get some pursuit drills in -- stuff that we normally do with the bags (outside). Nothing beats practicing outside."

About 40 potential players dressed in helmets, shorts and cleats - the attire allowed by the N.C. High School Athletic Association during the first three days of workouts.

Two players watched from the sidelines due to incomplete paperwork. Sanders anticipated five more players to report sometime during the week. None of those players can participate in either a scrimmage or regular-season game until they complete the required number of practices set by the NCHSAA.

"We are not game ready, by any means," Sanders said. "But when you gauge things from what you've seen in the past, this was definitely one of our best opening days. We could tell spring ball paid dividends. We could tell that getting our kids to camp (this summer) paid dividends."

The Gators attended the annual Greater Neuse River Fellowship of Christian Athletes camp held at University of Mount Olive. Schools from Wayne County and area communities attended the camp, which was broken up into three sessions.

Players practiced each day and developed a camaraderie with the other teams in attendance. They also listened to devotionals from former athletes who explained how giving the glory to God through athletics played a significant part in their respective lives.

SC scrimmages Southern Wayne on Aug. 10. Game time is 6 p.m. at "The Swamp."