BHS gridders hit the field running

Photo by Ron Goodwyn Battle-weary-- and hot --the Varsity Bison leave the field after Saturday morning’s scrimmage. Bison fans got their first look at the 2009 BHS football team at the annual Purple and Gold full-contact scrimmage at Brewer Field on Saturday morning, and it was a good one. Folks crowded into the best seats in the stadium -- the ones in the shade -- as the players (in full pads) battled not only their teammates but temperatures in the 90’s. Enthusiasm for the season was high, both in the stands and on the field.

Head Coach Mark Read summarized, “We mixed it up pretty good, and we saw some good things. Also saw a lot of things we can concentrate on. For this point in the year we are a little ahead of where I thought we’d be.”

BHS puts a good-sized offensive line on the field this year and in the backfield they have quickness and experience. Jordan Canady looked poised leading the team from the quarterback position, and Ryan Read showed precision when he took the field as the back-up QB. Aaron Bell appears fully recovered from last year’s knee injury, running low and hard when he had the ball. The Bison have a lot of depth at running back to challenge their opponents’ defensive units. The kicking game is there, too. Rigo Andrade kicked two field goals from about 30 yards out, and both had plenty of room to spare.

Freshman Travis Cunningham ducks his head and gets another yard. Photo by Ron Goodwyn While Saturday’s workout was primarily an offensive scrimmage, the defense also showed promise. Kirk Ringland will certainly be missed at the linebacker position. Coach Read admitted, “That is definitely the biggest void we have to fill, but Jacob Rodell is in that slot right now and he definitely has the capability to do it.”

BHS’ 2009 Men’s Coaching Staff: (L-R) Mark Read, Clayton Hodges, John Forrest, Vic Wheeler, Warren Ringland, Jack Ard and Jerry Russ pose for the camera during a water break. The Bison do have a few players on the early season injury list. Last year’s torn ACL is still keeping Damian Rodriguez off the field. Casey Helfenbien has suffered a broken thumb but will be playing with a working cast. Joseph Lewis has not yet been able to take the field due to an accident with an axe this summer.

Studying the films from Saturday will give the Bison some specifics to work on this week, before facing Rice in scrimmage action on Saturday, August 15. The next Thursday, August 20, will see the Bison scrimmage Franklin in the final pre-season outing.

Two teams (first All Saints and then Austin Eastside) have backed out of the August 29 opener, so it looks like the first game of the season may be an open date. Coach Read doesn’t expect that to adversely mess with the Bison team psyche, pointing out, “It’s not a bad time for an open date. Lovelady will have a chance to play themselves into game shape (for our September 4th meeting), but we’ll have two weeks to prepare for them.”