PREP FOOTBALL: County teams began practice Monday morning

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on July 31, 2017 5:52 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Workout sessions, spring football, 7-on-7 passing and mini camps.

They're all done.

The REAL season began today.

And it started early -- 6 a.m. to be exact -- down Ash Street with a slight right-hand turn onto Herman.

Elvin James made his official return as head football coach at Goldsboro. His shrill whistle filled the air barely an hour after the sun arose from its slumber.

"It ain't nothing personal, but it's strictly business," laughed James, who was named the Cougars' head coach in June. "We need a little wake-up call. We're still a work in process, a little behind the 8-ball in a sense.

"We got started late. They are buying into the process and it's starting to catch on."

Across town in the sleepy community of New Hope, second-year head coach Leander Oates guided his Eastern Wayne players onto the field at 8 a.m. Over in Pikeville, the powder blues -- who must replace 17 seniors -- started at the same time.

Rosewood launched its season at 8:45 a.m.

"We had a great three days of practice at our mini camp, which are not mandatory," Eagles head coach Robert Britt. "We're trying to get some of the headaches out of the way early before the first day."

Britt also welcomed a new addition to his coaching staff -- Aaron Sanders, who was dismissed from Spring Creek less than two weeks ago.

A third-round playoff participant last season, Princeton donned its workout gear and headed to the practice field at 8:30. And the final team to conduct a morning session was Southern Wayne, which lined up for stretching and conditioning at 9 a.m. with second-year head coach Ronnie McClary.

"It's here, whether we are ready or not," said Princeton coach Travis Gaster.

Two schools have scheduled opening-day ... well ... night practices -- former Carolina 1-A Conference rivals Spring Creek and North Duplin. SC has merged into the seven-team East Central 2-A Conference this fall.

Wayne Christian will hold a team meeting at 6:30 p.m. The Eagles, a second-year 8-man varsity program, are scheduled to start practice Tuesday at 6 p.m. WCS advanced to the N.C. Independent Schools Association Division 1-A playoffs in 2016.

Teams are permitted to practice just once a day during the first five days, and cannot exceed three hours, according to policies mandated by the N.C. High School Athletic Association.

Players can dress in just helmets, T-shirts, shorts and shoes during the first two practice sessions. Shoulder pads are added on day three and players are allowed contact with blocking sleds and tackling dummies.

Live-action drills start the sixth day.

The NCHSAA recommended constant hydration and cautioned that schools have an athletic trainer on site before, during and after all practices.