Galax Gazette Article

[sportsfan 21]

Maroon Tide gets early start

Galax and Mount Airy brought a Friday feeling to a Wednesday evening in the Tide’s opening scrimmage.

By Craig Worrell, Sports Editor

Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at 8:44 am 

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MOUNT AIRY, N.C. –– It wasn’t exactly Christmas in August, but it was at least Friday on hump day.

Getting a two-day jump on the normal first scrimmage date of the 2015 season, Galax and Mount Airy, N.C. got together for a rare Wednesday workout as the Maroon Tide continued preparations for its Aug. 28 season opener.

Galax coach Mark Dixon picked no slouch to face in his team’s first action of the year, facing a Granite Bears program that has averaged 10 wins a season over the past decade, including a 10-2 campaign in 2014.

“Really good work. Maybe the best work we’ve had, ever, in a scrimmage,†Dixon said. “They’re really challenging and really physical. We needed that and it gives me a chance to evaluate. We’ll go back tonight and look at everything we did against other people and see where we’re at.â€

Preserving its stadium surface for the real thing, the Bears conducted the workout on their disjointed practice field, which consists of two 50-yard grids placed at right angles. Fittingly, with the grounds laid out like a passing league tournament, the two clubs started off with some 7-on-7 work – no shoulder pads, no tackling – while the linemen went at each other live on a side field. After about 45 offensive plays each, the teams suited up and went at it for real.

As far as scoring went, Mount Airy came out on top 2-1 with both touchdowns coming through the air in the latter down-and-distance portion of the workout, and while the Bears’ offense looked sound, Dixon was far from unhappy with his defense.

“I was pleased, believe it or not, with the defense overall, considering we hadn’t worked on it much,†said Dixon, whose Maroon Tide is coming off a 9-4 season. “So many kids are brand new. We’re so young and it’s all brand new to them, so defensively they picked things up better than I thought they would.â€

Dixon has the unusual task of trying to replace a 3,000-yard rusher for the second straight season and Charles Harris had carries on four of Galax’s first nine snaps, including a seven-yard gain that in which he bowled over a Mount Airy cornerback, while Dougie Peoples and Ty Rector got the bulk of the rushing attempts after the Tide’s first 10-play series. Peoples most likely saw his stock increase with several physical carries and Rector ripped off a 25-yard gain on a sweep.

“I thought Dougie ran the ball really hard,†Dixon said.

Third-year starting quarterback Carson Orton was on target on several short routes, and his bootleg pass to a wide-open Jordan Peoples for a 23-yard touchdown was the final snap of the two-hour scrimmage.

But Orton was sacked four times behind an offensive front that has undergone some shuffling about, including all-state center Caleb Spurlin returning to the backfield as an H back, the position in which he began last season.

“Obviously right now the major, major concern is the offensive line,†Dixon said. “Going into the year most people probably think that’s going to be a major strength for us but it’s not, and it’s not for several reasons. No. 1 is I’ve pulled kids off of it. Basically you have three or four new kids who have never played there, now they’re starting. Good kids and very capable, but we’re a month away from where we need to be. It’s not going to come in a hurry. But I like their talent and I like how they work.â€

Galax will host Carroll County in the two teams’ annual benefit game on Aug. 21 and the Maroon Tide opens its 2015 season on the road at defending Group 2A state champion Glenvar on Aug. 28.