Hartsville football hits gridiron for 2008

The Red Fox football team had a record-breaking season in 2007 and defeated region foe Conway for the first time in 10 years.

They began the 2008 season with spring practice on May 12, and practiced for nine days ending with the annual spring game today at 4:30 p.m. at Kelleytown Stadium.

“The kids are working hard. They’ve got a great attitude, and they are trying to learn what we do,” head coach Jeff Calabrese said of the team in this year’s spring practice.
“I think the defensive kids have a great attitude,” Calabrese said of the players’ reaction to new defensive coordinator Rick Ostrander. “He is different in philosophy and makeup, and I think they are really responding. We’ve got some good players over there. I’ve been very pleased.”

Calabrese said the team this year is a completely different team from the 2007 squad. “We had some great players last year,” the coach said. “But we’ve got some great players here now, and some young kids are stepping up. I think everything has been fine. It is a very different team. They don’t say a whole lot, but they do a whole lot. It’s different, but I like how they are going about their business.”

The coach added there are always surprises in terms of development.
Yet, He and the rest of the staff feel as if the team is exactly where they should be. “Offensively, I think we are ahead of where I thought they’d be,” he said. “I think defensively, we’re ahead of the game in thought process.”

This year was also different because the S.C. High School League voted to allow teams to practice in full pads for spring as opposed to only shoulder pads and shorts.
Calabrese said that has made a huge difference.

“Everybody looks like a player in shorts,” he laughed.

“I don’t think [the impact of the new rule] is any question.”

Calabrese also said he thinks the progress thus far can be attributed to the coaching staff’s recognition of player development, and the new full pads rule has helped greatly with that.

“What full pads has enabled us to do is put kids in the right spots and get them reps,” said Calabrese. “Being able to put kids in the right spot, for the most part, has enabled us to progress mentally. We are a little ahead of where we thought we’d be.”

The coach said the leadership is progressing, but it is a different type.

“The guy that may be the number one in a position is helping number two. That to me is a great sign of leadership. It shows a lot of maturity.”

The team is returning four starters on defense and three starters on offense.

They expect to have as many seniors this year as last.

They should have about 25 seniors on the team again.

“I think we are going to be an interesting mix,” he said.

Calabrese also listed a number of players who have stood out already. Jason Jones and Ronnie Jackson have looked impressive, Calabrese said. Quarterback Dylan Usher has also looked sharp, he said.

He added Ryan Simon, Chavez Gattison and Damien Dixon have performed well on defense. Also, Shawn Smith has looked impressive on the defensive side of the ball after making the switch from fullback last season.

Calabrese listed a number of players in which he was pleased.

The team finished spring practice today with the annual spring game at 4:30 p.m. at Kelleytown Stadium.