Eagles practice through downpour on first day

Posted Aug 9, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Aug 9, 2011 at 07:56 PM

The Brandon football team was unable to practice on Monday, the first day teams were allowed to take the field across the state, due to inclement weather.

Tuesday’s weather conditions weren’t much of an improvement, but it didn’t stop head coach John Lima from putting his players on the field.

“It was good,” he said. “We have the most returning j.v players we’ve ever had. We’ve got 25 of them and I’ve got my varsity guys so it makes teaching in practice a lot easier than it used to be.”

Brandon went 9-2 last season and lost to Clearwater in the Class 5A region quarterfinals, 46-16. The Eagles averaged 220 rushing yards per game last season and 297 per game through their first four games. However, Brandon graduated several players that were key to its success, athletes like quarterback/safety John Celerin, running back Darius Lee and two-way lineman Shawn Council, along with two 300 pound-plus offensive linemen. Still, optimism is high in the Eagles’ Nest.

“This year, we have more seniors and the maturity level has stepped up,” said senior captain and fullback/halfback Justin Gentry, who will be sidelined for a few weeks as he recovers from groin surgery. “A lot of us have been playing together since little league.”

“It’s the first time we’ve been able to follow a large (senior) class with (another) large class,” Lima said.

Brandon opens the season at Armwood and will face Newsome, Plant, Plant City and Jefferson during the regular season.

“This team right now is still trying to find an identity,” Lima said. “We want to see who’s going to step up. If our (offensive) line develops, we should be pretty good, but the hardest part will be replacing some of those guys on defense.”