Newton football coach Zach Grady is heading into summer practices with a smile on his face.
Grady and the Tigers recently finished up spring practices with a jamboree at Southern Miss as they beat McLaurin 16-0 and then beat Mount Olive 22-0. The Newton JV then beat Southeast Lauderdale 6-0.
“We had a great spring,” Grady said. “It’s the first time since I have been coaching the we have been able to get all the days in. We were able to get some new kids out of the hall that I think can help us. We’ve got 47 kids out and a good mixture of young and old kids. I thought the younger kids really stepped up and I think we are headed in the right direction.”
Grady said while quarterback Tyreke Snow had a good game and looked “really quick,” he also saw plenty of things that he liked.
“Tyreke had a good game but our running backs had a good game as well,” Grady said. “I thought the young guys played really well and the sophomores had a big game. They are coming along pretty good and they are going to be something to watch. A lot of times with young guys, they get the big eyes but they never did. They stepped up and made some big plays. They were able to do it in live action and it was encouraging.”
Grady said the Tigers will now head to summer practices.
“We are going to get out and do some 7-on-7 and try to get these kids recruited,” Grady said. “Summer is a really need for us. We’ve got a lot of work to do. Now they can focus on getting faster and stronger. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Grady said there will be plenty of work on the passing game this summer.
“We worked a lot on the running game this spring and didn’t do a lot of passing,” Grady said. “We’ve got all summer to work on the passing game. We had to get better at running the football and I thought we did. I told them there was no need in wasting spring reps on passing. I was impressed with all three running backs. I think we will be able to run it as well as we have since I have been here.”
