PREP FOOTBALL: New faces control Falcons' nest

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 2, 2017 7:13 AM

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PIKEVILLE -- Blake Dilda cradled the football like a loaf of bread.

He lowered his center of gravity.

As he cleared the first shield, Charles B. Aycock head coach Steve Brooks reached out and stripped the ball from Dilda's grasp. Dilda dropped to the ground and did five push-ups.

Moments later, teammate Tyler Daniels suffered the same fate.

Another five, please.

The duo soon started to run the drill with precision -- a testimony to their coach who prefers an up-tempo offense that requires absolute concentration with no room for error.

"Going up-tempo and getting as many reps as we possibly can is my way of life and is always the way I'm going to do it," Brooks said. "I'm seeing some young guys step up, some guys that have been backups for a couple of years who are finally getting their shot

"I just told them to compete through camp."

Water break.

Padded shields are shoved aside.

Clad in white helmets and white jerseys on a bright sunny Tuesday morning, the players hustle toward the cones.

Daniels works on one side. The smooth-throwing junior drops back and throws a frozen rope to a receiver.

No catch.

"It's a quick three-back pedal, bang it," Brooks said. "Get up the field and be an athlete. (Get) up on your toes as quick as you can."

On the other side is Dilda, the JV signal caller in 2016.

Brooks finds himself in teaching mode. He explains and shows the mechanics of a proper throw -- nuances that can either result in a catch, end in a turnover on downs ... or Lord forbid ... a pick by the defense.

Dilda finds a rhythm, but time is ticking away.

His daily practice plan tucked in his right-hip pocket, Brooks shouts encouragement -- and critiques -- as the offensive drill continues. He stops, pulls out the folded up paper and talks briefly with his coaching staff.

Water break.

Time for first-team offense vs. first-team defense.

Brooks calls a play.

Daniels takes the snap, hands off to his running back who looks for open real estate behind a new offensive line that must replace five starters who signed college scholarships in the offseason. Brooks doesn't appear too pleased.

"5-4-3-2-1," he counts.

The play calls persist at a rapid pace. The linemen hustle back to their positions, fully aware that multiple plays are the backbone of an offense that has the capability to explode at any moment.

Enough first-team work.

The second-string O and D square off on the freshly-cut, dew-covered grass.

"Ah, no good right there, you can't be slow," Brooks said. "Got to be down and out of the way. Use your God-given talent to attack. Those guys (on the other side) are big and stronger with pads on, too.

"Defense go full speed, hit it! Work men, work, work work."

Water break.

Wow, 17 seniors gone.

New faces. Smaller, athletic bodies. Inexperience.

"I think we're way more athletic in some positions," Brooks said. "Up front...that's going to take some time, going to take some learning. Obviously, Coach (James) Hawley is doing a great job.

"We're going to just have to take it slow with that group. They're not as athletic as the O-line that we had, but they're competing and they're working hard. That's what I'm asking of them."

And soon, they'll block with precision.