Branford — In anticipation for the 2012-13 season, many returning Buccaneer football players have been on the field preparing for the spring game against Bell on May 25, in Bell.

The Branford High School football team started spring training on May 1. There are currently 37 players out for the team, and because there are still three months of summer before the 2012-13 season starts, new head coach Roy Harden said retaining those numbers is the hard part.

“Every year you lose some players over the summer. We are hoping to start with 30, but we would keep them all if they make it through the summer. I’d like to have a roster of 37,” Harden said.

As for the first week of practice, Harden thought it went well.

“We are expecting our offensive line to be pretty successful this season, as long as we remain injury free. You don’t know for sure how the season will go until you start playing.  We’d like to be competitive in our games,” Harden said.

With the possibility of a team full of returning players, Harden has high hopes for the offensive line.

Some of those returning players and members of the offensive line include halfback Cole Lamb, quarterback Robert Morris, athlete Kenny Johnson and fullback Seth Dickerson. Lamb had 203 carries last season for a total of 1,116 rushing yards last season. He put nine touchdowns and 10 conversion points on the board for the Bucs during his sophomore year.

Morris who had 460 total passing yards last season, with 48.5 percent completion average for passing. He had 48 carries for a total of 30 yards. Morris threw five touchdown passes and eight interceptions for the season.

Johnson is practicing with the Bucs for a second season. He made his debut on varsity as an eighth grader last fall scoring two touchdowns in the game against Temple Christian Academy. He had 74 carries last season for a total of 519 yards. Johnson had 10 receptions for a total of 154 yards. He had three passing attempts with one completion for 15 yards. Johnson helped the Buccaneers with four touchdowns and two conversion points. Johnson was designated as an athlete last season, where he currently remains.

Dickerson had 46 carries for a total of 253 yards last season. Dickerson ran three touchdowns and scored two conversion points for the 2011-12 season.  

This will be the first season with Harden as the Bucs’ head coach. Harden graduated from BHS in 1979, served 10 years in the Air Force and then went to the University of Florida to study physical education. He traveled around for stints as assistant coach and head coach for teams throughout north central Florida, then spent two years as a head coach Missouri. Most recently though, Harden spent the last nine years at Bell High School as the head football coach. When the opportunity at BHS opened up for a head football coach, Harden threw his hat in, hoping for an “opportunity to come teach and coach at my alma mater.”