The annual football rites of spring are set to wrap up today.
It will mark the 10th practice for the Gilmer High Bobcats, and they will end spring with an intrasquad scrimmage.
For head coach Paul Standard and staff, not much changes from year to year when it comes to the yearly event. Talent assessment and progression are two areas of importance as they fill spots vacated by graduating seniors.
“Last year, we had our entire backfield coming back with some great backups,” Standard said. “This year, we’ve got to replace the starting backfield, per se.”
Two spots of immediate need are quarterback and fullback to replace all-state performers Issac Rellinger and Wyatt Stokes, respectively. Rising senior Bo Cronic and rising sophomore A.J. Callihan have been battling it out for the quarterback spot.
“They’ve both done a great job and are both going to play somewhere for us,” said Standard. “If they’re not at quarterback, they’ll be somewhere. Once in my career we played two quarterbacks. I don’t know if it’s the greatest situation, but every year is different.”
At fullback, junior Peyton Chancey and sophomore Madden Hopkins are the front-runners.
GHS lost two offensive lineman, which included all-state selection Blane Banks. Sophomores Jamie Bautista and David Bright and seniors Salvador Ruiz and Denny Ramirez will battle it out for the two open spots.
Defensively up front, the Cats are looking for two starting tackles and an end. Some of the aforementioned linemen will be in the mix for those positions, as well as junior Chaz Curtis.
Gilmer will also have to replace a linebacker and cornerback. Junior Mason West and sophomore McCoy Sutton will likely take the field in the secondary as first-year starters. Senior Cheyne Smith will step in at linebacker.
Another key component is evaluating younger talent to fill backup roles on Friday nights, as well as discovering who will take the field for junior varsity games.
“We have a couple young guys who could possibly help us this season,” Standard said. “For our upcoming ninth graders, what a great group of kids. They’ve really been taught well by the middle school staff. We really like these kids, and we’ve been able to do a little more than normal with our younger group so far. I feel like they’re really going to help us as we go down the road.
“I’ve been really pleased. We’ve had great participation, and I think we have 34 to 37 rising ninth graders.”
Today’s scrimmage will tentatively start at 4 p.m. There will be alternating sessions for upperclassmen and younger players. The annual girls flag football game will follow the scrimmage.