Summer Football Is Events And Workouts

MADISON- The heat of summer is upon us and will only get worse in the coming months of July and August. The local high school football programs work through the sweltering conditions in preparation for the upcoming 2019 fall season going through off-field workouts and plenty of 7-on-7 Tournaments.

“We got a ton of good work in at Auburn,” said Kevin Rose head coach of Bob Jones, as his Patriots played in a recent 7-on-7 Tournament in Auburn and finished 2-4 on the day. “We subbed every series to get all players some reps. We were also missing some basketball players.”

This week, the James Clemens Jets will attend two events including the two-day Southeastern Line Camp and the 7-on-7 at Birmingham Southern College. The Jets under guidance of Wade Waldrop will partake in two 7-on-7 Tournaments in July. One at Samford and a second presented by the Fellowship Of Christian Athletes.

Bob Jones will also participate in the Southeastern Line Camp along with 7-on-7 events at both Samford and Hoover.

Both teams participate in these special events to go along with their regularly scheduled workouts at their respective schools leading up to the official first day of practice set by the Alabama High School Athletic Association on Aug. 5.

The regular season kicks off in a big way for the two Madison high schools as James Clemens will host Grayson High, a school from suburban Atlanta, at the Madison City Schools Stadium on Aug. 23. Bob Jones will hit the road for its opener as the Patriots travel to Memphis, Tenn. to tangle with Christian Brothers High the same night. Both squads are expected to be senior-loaded with each having over 25 upperclassmen on the team rosters heading into pre-season practice.

The annual head-to-head battle between the two schools is scheduled for Sept. 6.

Bob Jones is coming off a 6-5 record and a first-round playoff loss from last season while James Clemens also lost in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs and posted a 7-4 season.

Bob Jones is also hosting the second annual Reggie Ragland Football Camp on July 13. The camp is open to players ages 8-18 and is free.