Finishing up strong

By Jerrad Lindenmuth/sportsreporter@trcle.com

May 20, 2008 12:37 pm

— As spring football draws to a close, the Cleburne Yellow Jackets prepare for their final spring scrimmage Wednesday at Yellow Jacket Stadium.
The JV squad will take the field at 5 p.m. with the varsity following at 6 p.m.
Head coach Phil Young was pleased with his team’s effort during Monday’s practice.
“Our guys showed up and got after it,” Young said. “I was proud with their effort. They went full blow today.”
Despite the heat, Young told his players not to use it as an excuse, telling them at the end of practice that Monday’s heat will be nothing compared to what they will have to practice in come August during two-a-days.
The players did not seem bothered by the heat during practice, still able to talk trash during breaks and remain animated and intense even after several weeks of grueling practices.
“I think the intensity is gradually getting better everyday,” Young said. “You get more comfortable and intense because you don’t think as much. I think that’s where we are right now, there’s not as much thinking going on when the ball is about to be snapped and that allows you to free up and play hard.”
Wednesday’s scrimmage, while not expected to cause a major shakeup to the depth chart, will give certain players an opportunity to make gradual movements up or down depending on their performance.
“After 16 practices, we have a pretty good idea of the depth chart.” Young said. “I don’t think there are guys who are going to lose down the depth chart or gain considerably. Guys may move a little bit, but we’ve seen in 16 practices what they can do. The scrimmage is more of a chance to make sure we know what we’re doing rather than for guys to make big impressions, because they should have done that the last 16 days in pads.”
The Yellow Jackets have also been fortunate regarding injuries during their 16 days in pads.
Young said that while a few players have been dinged up, nobody has sustained a serious injury that will keep them out for an extended period of time.
The scrimmage will be free for the public to attend, and will be followed by a watermelon feed with the players, which will also be free.
Also coming up at Yellow Jacket Stadium will be the first “Garage Sale at the Rock,” scheduled for 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
If you would like to donate items, bring them to Yellow Jacket Stadium from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
For more information, call 817-517-9355.