HANOVER
In the preseason, Brownstown Central High School’s football team focuses on perfecting the little things.
The Braves build the type of habits and skills that add up to championships in November.
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This past week, the Braves got a better chance to see how far they are from where they want to be before 2019’s opening kickoff.
They traveled to Hanover College Wednesday through Friday for a team camp with Madison, Providence and West Washington for the second straight year.
Two practices made up the Wednesday and Friday sessions, while the Braves did a three-a-day Thursday. While most of the camp involved scrimmaging in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 scenarios, the Braves also put in some individual work.
“The first practice on Wednesday, we put helmets on and didn’t do a lot and then did some 7-on-7,” Braves head coach Reed May said. “We really got after it today (Thursday). We did some 7-on-7, team offense and three 11-on-11s in the morning before taking it kind of easy in the afternoon before doing more 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 at night. It’s good for the kids. We get some reps and some things on film.”
The camp at Hanover was the second for the Braves this summer, as they also attended the Tom Allen Football Camp at Indiana University on June 13.
Since venturing to IU, May and his staff have a better idea of how the roster is shaping up.
“We’ve had to make some personnel changes,” May said. “We’re slowly getting better, but we have a long way to go still. We have a lot of seniors (18), but we have a lot of inexperienced seniors. It’s a process all summer. Some things look good, and others do not. Our goal as always is to be ready come sectional time.”
Senior Jalen Tiemeyer, who was Indiana Football Coaches Association Class 3A all-state as a defensive lineman last year, said the team is working on execution.
“It has been going so-so. We’ve been kind of iffy on some of our plays,” Tiemeyer said at the camp. “We just can’t get all of it to quite come together. We can see all kinds of offenses and defenses (at Hanover). We can learn how to guard against each one. Whenever we’re here, we can go up against actual teams instead of the scout team in practice.”
Incoming senior Braeden Walker said the underclassmen are pushing the upperclassmen.
“We’ve had to move some people around. Guys are going between first and second team,” he said. “The competition is different (at Hanover). Every team has a different offense and defense. It’s at a varsity level instead of the JV or C team.”
This upcoming week is a big one for the Braves’ football program.
The 56ers, middle school and freshman programs will have camp this week leading up to Friday’s annual Superstars Night. Superstars Night will feature physical tests for the high school team; a 56ers punt, pass and kick competition; a middle school scrimmage; and an awards ceremony at Blevins Memorial Stadium. The tentative schedule has the event starting at 4 p.m.
Brownstown will have its annual Dancing with the Stars fundraiser on Saturday night after hosting a 7-on-7 with Franklin Community and Bedford North Lawrence.
After the fair week, the Braves will wrap up the preseason before opening against Corydon Central on Aug. 23.