The Putnam County football team hosted a padded camp on Tuesday and Thursday last week.
Beyond the War Eagles, the teams that participated included Eagle’s Landing Christian, Howard, Riverdale, Lake Oconee Academy, Warren County, Stratford Academy, Dodge County, Northeast Macon, Baldwin, Winder-Barrow, and Sequoyah.
The camp took place at Putnam County’s practice fields behind the school. The teams took the field from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday and 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, as coaches adjusted their players to the heat.
The teams faced off against opponents in three 60-minute sessions each day of the camp.
Putnam County head coach Joel Harvin said he thought the War Eagles performed well against the competition.
“The padded camp was great,” Harvin told The Eatonton Messenger. “We were able to compete against some good quality opponents and get a solid look at what we are good at and some things that we need to work on.”
On Tuesday, after a lengthy weather delay, the War Eagles took the field against Warren County and performed well. Their defense played stingy against the Screaming Devils’ wing-T offense, showing they could stop the run. Junior outside linebacker Bryson Brown made his presence known as a solid run stopper.
Several of Putnam County’s defensive backs, including Rodney Hines and Bill Waters, played well on the perimeter. The group chased down several Warren County ball carriers when they got loose.
Offensively, the War Eagles rotated quarterbacks between Ethan Whatley and Branan Griffin. They also lined up in the wildcat formation, where several tailbacks took direct snaps and followed the offensive line for extra yards.
Due to the late start caused by weather, Putnam County faced one other opponent before the camp ended around 8 p.m.
The padded camp then began early Thursday morning as players and coaches alike worked to avoid the scorching heat. The War Eagles played against Winder-Barrow, Howard, and Sequoyah on the final day of the camp.
Those scrimmages were good tests for Putnam County, as each opponent is in a higher classification. The War Eagles performed well, with several players making some big-time plays.
In the scrimmage against Winder-Barrow, wide receiver Jayson Smith showed his athleticism by hauling in a pass over the shoulder of an opposing defensive back. The Putnam County offense also got its ground game going as Whatley and Griffin split snaps and rushed for extra yardage on several quarterback-designed runs.
Harvin and the coaching staff also used Thursday to give their younger players invaluable reps.
“This was great for our team, especially our younger players, who needed a lot of good reps as well,” he said.
The War Eagles will complete the GHSA-mandated acclimation period this week before scrimmaging against West Laurens (Aug. 1) and Washington County (Aug. 8). The season kicks off Aug. 15 at home against rival Greene County.