Spring-Ford known to be early risers

The sun was scheduled to rise at 6:22 a.m.

The thud of pads against bags and the shriek of the whistles echoed through the trees that separated Spring-Ford’s football team from the rest of the high school campus.

Nestled in between the trees, the Rams had been at it for 22 minutes before the scheduled sunrise.

Just the way head coach Chad Brubaker likes it.

“The thing is, we can get out of the heat,” the sixth-year head coach said. “Today was a beautiful morning and we already have a practice in. We want our kids to get up and be alert and start early and work hard.

“Primarily we get two practices in before lunch time but the other part of it is that at the end of the day, we’re trying to give these kids skills for life. It’s not always fun to get out of bed real early and get in but I think if you ask our kids, I think they would say that they like it. It teaches them to go to bed early, get their rest and get out of bed even if they’re a little sore, tired or cranky. That’s what we have to do to go to our jobs.”

The early morning practice time of 6 a.m. (the earliest start time in the PAC-10) is nothing new for the Rams who went 7-2 in the PAC-10 last season and 7-3 overall … not after five years with Brubaker at the helm.

“I think initially the kids were caught off guard waking up earlier,” Brubaker said. “Now I think the kids are used to it.”

Not a step was lost as the Rams went through drills with team sessions worked in intermittently. It was a great chance to show off the offense … which Brubaker hopes will get even faster after installing the no-huddle, up-tempo pace a year ago. But more on that will be revealed when the Mercury Area Football Preview is released next week.

Making Moves

Spring-Ford’s opening scrimmage saw the team without six starters. With that comes competition for starting gigs as some of the second teamers made their impression over the weekend.

“We just said this morning that all positions are open,” Brubaker said.  “We can’t allow guys to get comfortable. Certain guys that probably would have been considered second teamers last week played really well in the scrimmage so we’re going to promote them. That may change for Week 1 but we try to emphasize that no one has a position. You have to keep working hard and earn it, it’s not going to be given to them.”

Matt Rice, the only full time returning starter along the offensive line, has done really well throughout camp as well as Tim Rudderow on the defensive front.

“Those two guys on the offensive and defensive line not only have to play well but they have to be leaders amongst their groups,” Brubaker said.

Secondary Changes

The graduation of starters Brandon Barone (corner) and Zach Hare (safety) will bring about changes in the Rams secondary in 2015. Trey Jarmon and Teddy Dylinski figure to be the Top 2 corners with the safety situation still left unsettled.

“Our secondary is one of those places that we’re going to see some changes,” Brubaker said.  “The good thing about that is that we have guys being competitive.

“Football is a cerebral game.  You have to have athletic ability but also have the intelligence to be in the right spot. You can make up being a lesser athlete because he’s more aware and smarter. He’s at the spot that he needs to be quicker than the guy who’s quicker than him.”

Need more information about Spring-Ford?

Look out for a story about Spring-Ford’s offense in the Mercury Area Football Preview coming in next week’s editions. Also in the preview will be the Rams roster, starting 11, players to watch, returning stat leaders and the Rams’ predicted finish in 2015. For all football news and stories go to our new website at papreplive.com