Yellow Jackets Impress in Scrimmage

With only one or two scrimmages slated before the start of the regular season, high school football teams have little time to prepare before the games start counting. While no team will have the opportunity to rehearse every potential situation they will face during the course of the regular season, these exercises are still of immense value. For instance, it's the first time all season that players will hit anyone besides their fellow teammates. The format also allows for coaches to be on the field, providing direct feedback that wouldn't be possible on game-day.

Before next Friday's opener against Tabb High School, JM took the field with Washington and Lee Thursday, in their last opportunity to gear up and knock off any lingering rust.

The scrimmage was loosely structured, with coaches and coordinators present on the field, and each team getting a set number of offensive plays as opposed to four downs. Thursday's scrimmage was broken down into two parts: a "first half" with each team alternating offensive possessions, and a second half in which score was kept and coaches came off the field.

James Monroe appeared dominant in every facet of the game. On Washington & Lee's first offensive set of plays, the Jackets forced three fumbles and a safety. JM's defensive line generated immense pressure and put the W and L quarterbacks under constant duress.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Yellow Jackets struggled to establish the run, using a series of draws and sweeps from the gun. The quarterbacks (four different QBs took snaps) all looked sharp, demonstrating good timing and hitting receivers in stride.

In the "second half" of the scrimmage, when score was kept, JM blanked the Generals 15-0. While his team looked to be cruising, head coach Rich Serbay knows there's room for improvement.

"We need to control the ball better with the running game," remarked Serbay after the scrimmage. "The running game has to open up the passing game. Tonight the passing game opened up the running game. It needs to be the other way around. We have to run the ball first and throw second."

Check back to Fredericksburg Patch next week for complete coverage of the Yellow Jacket's season opener.