Bulldogs show bite during 7-on-7

Published 11:02 pm Tuesday, July 29, 2008

DEMOPOLIS — The Sweet Water Bulldogs played their third and final 7-on-7 competition Tuesday when they visited Memorial Stadium in Demopolis.

The competition allowed the run-heavy Bulldogs to work on their awareness in the passing game while simulating game situations.

“They’re not shooting live bullets,” Sweet Water head coach Stacy Luker said. “I think this is about competing. That’s the reason we were here.”

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His team won each of its first three games on the afternoon before dropping its final outing to Livingston. During that scrimmage, the team primarily played its reserve players in an effort to get the younger competitors more experience.

According to Luker, obtaining that game experience for young players was one of the coaching staff’s primary focuses during the competition.

“Getting lined up right and breaking on balls. Getting some looks for some younger kids,” he said of the team’s main goals for the competition.

The Bulldogs, winners of three of the last four 1A state championships, enter the season with new faces at quarterback and running back. Additionally, the team’s offensive line will boast four new starters when play begins next month.

The three 7-on-7 outings allowed Luker an opportunity to assess new starting quarterback Damaraquis Williams. Luker reported being pleased with the progress the team’s primary signal-caller has displayed throughout the summer.

With its pass-happy 7-on-7 competitions completed for the summer, the team will now turn its focus to playing its game.

“We’ll go back on the practice field in the morning and work on our running game,” Luker said. “From here on out, it’s about getting ready for that first game.”

Sweet Water will open its season Aug. 29 on the road against rival Thomasville.