Wildcats tune up for 2022 football season
First-year Kemper County High school football coach William Clay got a first-hand look as to how his Wildcats will react under the lights last Friday night, when KCHS traveled to Northeast Lauderdale for a Spring football scrimmage.
“The kids really responded well to what we have been working on all spring,” Clay said. “We are not there yet, but we are getting there.”
Each varsity team had the ball for 10 plays during the scrimmage, as did each Jayvee team. There was also some goal line scrimmaging.
“It was the first time to see those kids on the field,” he said. “It will be good to have some film to look at.”
He said there were some surprises.
“We expected some of the guys to be big time leaders and they were, but had some other guys come in and really step up. There are some guys who may be able to help us with depth during the season.”
Clay said he had 61 athletes to work with during the spring, but hoped that number would be closer to 70 by the time the 2022 season begins.
He said the team would get to work on its strength and conditioning program. “We want to get stronger, bigger and faster,” he said.
Clay said the Wildcats would compete in seven-on-seven competition in June.
Kemper County will take part in the Louisville Jamboree the weekend of Aug. 19, before opening the regular season on the road in Carthage against Leake Central on Aug. 26. The first home game is against a strong Louisville High School team on Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.