NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
The McCoy Colts and Crescent Heights Vikings held a controlled scrimmage Monday afternoon at Crescent Heights. The practice allowed both teams to run both offence and defence with coaching between every play.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
McCoy and Crescent Heights High Schools shared a practice field on Monday to work together through a controlled scrimmage.
Both teams are coming off winning weekends, as the Colts beat Taber 32-21 Friday and the Vikings won 51-29 in Airdrie. The two teams organized Monday’s controlled scrimmage as a way to let both teams get game-speed practice in a safe, constructive environment.
Both coaches see it as a way for their teams to grow and get better while having fun.
“It’s great for the kids to get to practise against somebody that’s not in the same colour jersey,” said Vikings coach Sean Davis. “But it’s all in good fun and it’s all about getting better and we’re really excited about it.
“It’s awesome, you get some live reps and playing against Crescent Heights you know there is not going to be any shenanigans,” added Colts head coach Darrell Grass. “The kids basically know each other you know, they’ve played football with each other and against each other. So there’s not that win-at-all-costs type of attitude, we’re here to get better.”
The two teams rotated offence and defence starting at the 30-yard line. Whichever side was on offence had 10 plays to score as many times as they could before switching sides of the ball.
“Instead of beating up yourself in practice and doing some live drills, you get to go game speed against somebody else and we get to mix guys up. We’ve got guys all over the place,” Grass said. “Sometimes you put a kid into a different position they aren’t used to and guess what, they do extremely well.”
As he talked about putting guys in new positions, the Colts ran a play with a player at running back who had never ran the ball before, much to the enjoyment of Grass.
“This is what it’s all about,” he said. “Building the family of football in Medicine Hat and just getting close.”
The Colts are on a bye week before they face Brooks in Medicine Hat on Oct. 15. The Vikings will be on the road to Taber to take on the Rebels. For Davis, he is excited for the game even if it’s on the road again.
“Our kids come to play each and every week and it doesn’t matter if we’re playing in Airdrie, Taber or the parking lot, our guys will be ready to play,” Davis said.
