NEW HOLLAND — High school football training camps are winding down, and this is the final weekend for scrimmages.
When teams to report to practice Monday, they’ll be focused squarely on their Week 1 opponents.
Headed to Garden Spot on Friday morning to watch the Spartans — fresh off a 10-0 regular season and a Section 3 championship — cap off their scrimmage slate against Berks County foe Muhlenberg.
Some notables to share …
WHAT I SAW: A little bit of everything, from special teams drills to 10-play scripted drives to one quarter of live, timed action.
During the timed scrimmage, each team scored one touchdown, Garden Spot first and then Muhlenberg, on the final play of the scrimmage.
The goal of the scrimmage was to get as many kids as many reps as possible, so the first half hour or so was spent on special teams, with each team getting ample time to kick extra points and field goals and then punts and punt returns.
Then came four sets of 10-play scripted drives apiece, and again, all the JV kids, varsity back-ups and then varsity players all got turns.
I thought this was an excellent way for coaches to get one last good, long look at kids who might be battling for a starting job or for a spot on special teams. And it gave the coaches some time to teach right there on the field during drills.
Good stuff.
For the Berks fans, Muhlenberg rotated three quarterbacks in and out the entire scrimmage — scripted, timed or otherwise.
The Muhls are a physical bunch; plenty of pushing and shoving and barking in the trenches, and all three QBs had a pretty good read on the O.
As for Garden Spot, which is angling for back-to-back Section 3 crowns before bouncing back up to Section 2 in 2014, there was plenty to like.
Like …
The first kid that absolutely jumped out at me was junior RB Chase Bowman, who will spell starter Corey Twaddel in the backfield. During the back-up drills, Bowman, a rugged 6-1, 205-pounder, ran wild. He popped a couple of long runs and constantly kept the chains moving. Twaddel had a nice day himself, piling up some nice yardage when the 1’s were out there.
Garden Spot returns just two starters on defense, so that group has been coming together the last two weeks. The Spartans may have found their ringleader: 5-7, 180-pound LB Ben Swarr is a tackling machine. Kid’s got a real nose for the ball. During the timed scrimmage, Swarr made a big stick in the backfield on third down, forcing Muhlenberg to punt.
QB Mitch Martin, who had a bust-out sophomore season last fall — 1,163 passing yards, 632 rushing yards, 25 total TD — was steady. He did fumble on an exchange during the scripted scrimmage, but he made some good reads out of the spread and delivered a TD pass during the timed event.
One area where Garden Spot should kick some butt and take some names is the o-line: Center Chris Trostle, guards Zach Walker and Alex Wilson and tackle Zach Jones all return. Tack on Austin Zook, the o-lineman MVP at Bloomsburg University team camp, at the other tackle, and the Spartans are in great shape there.
As for the timed scrimmage, Garden Spot got on the board first when Martin zipped a 36-yard TD strike to Zach Reed, who beat his man and the safety and won the footrace to the end zone.
That TD was set up when Swarr blew up a play in the backfield on third down, forcing the Muhls to punt.
Garden Spot’s defense came up big on Muhlenberg’s ensuing possession. The Muhls had first and goal at the 10 but the Spartans pushed them back to fourth and goal at the 14.
On a pass play to the weak side, Spartans’ DB Christian Wardle jumped the route and picked off the pass.
Garden Spot punted on its next drive, and Muhlenberg closed out the scrimmage with a short drive and matching touchdown on the final play of the scrimmage.
So it ended 7-7 on the scoreboard, but I thought both teams took away a ton from the whole scrimmage — not just the part with the clock running.
GARDEN SPOT COUNTDOWN TO CAMP PREVIEW
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: Pretty nice crowd for a Friday, 10 a.m. scrimmage; Garden Spot’s home bleachers had a goodly amount of fans taking it all in.
Enjoyed the coaching and teaching between plays, especially during the scripted scrimmage. Muhlenberg’s coaches in particular were super animated and were quick to praise their kids — especially the trench guys — when they got the play right, whether it went for 10 yards or a 2-yard loss.
Garden Spot coach Matt Zamperini huddled with his kids for a good 15 minutes after the scrimmage. He talked about good things and things they need to work on while prepping for their Week 1 non-league tilt vs. Twin Valley.
He probably also discussed the bull’s-eyes that were coming; when you go 10-0 one season, you can bet the ranch everyone will be gunning for you the next time around.
TAKEAWAY: On paper, Muhlenberg faces a tough grind in the Berks Football League Section 1 race, with showdowns against favorite Governor Mifflin and perennial District 3 Class AAA qualifier Conrad Weiser looming. If the Muhls can settle on a QB, and if that line can stay physical, Muhlenberg should challenge.
As for Garden Spot … the Spartans will be the pick to repeat in Section 3, and they’ll see where they stand right away in Week 4 when Garden Spot visits for Donegal for the much-anticipated league opener.
Not sure if I feel comfy picking another 10-0 season. But the Spartans have the kids to git-r-done.
Caught up with Zamperini after Friday’s scrimmage and chatted about finishing up camp and getting ready for the upcoming season. Take a look.