Live Oak — corey.davis@gaflnews.com



BRANFORD-Since the end of May when Spring football practice ended both Suwannee and Branford have been busy in the summer.

With 30 days till the start of football practice, both teams have been preparing for the upcoming season.

One of the things keeping the teams busy has been competing in a  7-on-7 passing league. 

Suwannee, Taylor County and host Branford scrimmaged each other twice rotating on offense and defense for 15 plays for a total of six scrimmages.

Depending on who hosts the 7-on-7 event, the format varies, Branford didn’t want to keep score and just focus on the passing and defending fundamentals. Other schools choose to keep score and make it a true competition.

Branford coach Bill Wiles said in addition to his team playing 7-on-7 they have been lifting weights and conditioning.

“This 7-on-7 helps everyone, for us you can’t simulate the speed out here. It’s good to see good competition, we have gone against Fort White, Taylor County, Santa Fe, Nease and Hardaway. If you don’t do it right, you will get toasted.”

Branford competed in the Gainesville FCA 7-on-7 camp last weekend and played well.

“We won two pool games and an elimination game before losing to eventual runnerup Hardaway, which lost to host Gainesville in the championship game. It’s good competition and good comradery too.”

Branford will finish up its final 7-on-7 games and then focus on camps before beginning fall practice.

“We will carry on after this and go to a FCA camp in Deland July 25 and compete against Apopka (6A), Gainesville (4A), Lakeland (5A), Santa Fe (2A), Fort White (2B) and two other teams in our session. As you can see that’s some solid competition there,” Wiles said.

“From there we will continue to lift for a week and then get ready for practice (Aug 9) which begins at 6 p.m. the first week before getting ready for a week long camp here like two-a-days where we will focus on offense, defense and kicking in segments.”

Suwannee has been just as busy competing in several 7-on-7 games at Madison County, Fort White and Branford as well as sending several guys to camps.

“We sent 10 offensive lineman to Florida and we’re going to Deland and Marianna for FCA camps the last weekends in July,” Spears said.

Spears added they have been lifting weights from 8-11 a.m. Monday-Thursday as well as running four days a week, conditioning and speed drills and some football specific stuff.

“Things couldn’t be better right now,” said Spears, who has been at six different schools in six years, “We’re on pace to get better and the kids are responding well working hard and enjoying getting better.

Spears initially gave the team Monday July 5 off for the holiday but the seniors wanted to practice and 45 kids showed up at 5 a.m.    

It’s that kind of determination that Spears hopes will translate over into the fall.

“I wouldn’t have come If I thought we wouldn’t be any good, we have a lot of potential, blessed to be at a good one, Spears said. “I’m commited to be here, I just need the community to be patient with me to build a program.”