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Great Falls Red Devils 8-4 (3-2) 2006 Football Schedule For directions, news stories, game stats and photos click on the opponent team name
* Conference Games
2006 Team Roster Printable roster click here (word doc file) To view Coaches or players profile click on their names.
^ Need either photo or personal information Also I need information on this years ball boys and team managers
Devils take advantage of extra time
The pre-season has not really been lengthened for high school teams this year, but the Great Falls Red Devils have still managed to get themselves an extra week of practice leading up to the start of the season. For the past two years, because of difficulties scheduling a game, Great Falls has had to play a Week 0 contest, the week before most teams typically start the season. While that did leave the Devils with a bye week during the season, it also meant they had to start a week early, robbing them of valuable practice time. It was tough, said coach Kenneth Schofield. It was one less week to put things in and one less week to get the kids in shape. It was also one less week to prepare for a game that counted on your record. Schofield said the extra week will come in especially handy this season. The Devils have an enormous sophomore class (26 players) and a big group of freshman. With so much youth, Schofield said as much time as possible is needed to help everyone understand what is expected of them. Just because there is an extra week to prepare doesn't mean that there haven't been challenges already this year. Like everyone, the Devils have had to contend with sweltering temperatures that have regularly approached 100 degrees. The heat we've experienced is typical of this time of year, but is not typical of regular season conditions, Schofield said. We want our young men to get in the best shape possible, but want them to do so safely. The Devils have begun their practices at 7 p.m. to help combat the heat. Overall Schofield said his team is where it needs to be through the first few days of practice. I think we've done well, Schofield said. We've progressed to the point we need to be at through the first days. I'm happy. The Devils will get their first taste of field action on August 10 when they face Indian Land in a jamboree. The Devils will hit the field again the next day against Central Pageland. Schofield said taking on Pageland would be a good test. They are a very good ball club, Schofield said. They are very well coached and have a talent pool that is really rebounding. It will definitely be a test.
Devils focus on having better season By Barry Byers The Herald (Published August 7 2006) GREAT FALLS -- Great Falls football coach Kenny Schofield went into last season with question marks at nearly every position.
He had graduated a senior class that had accounted for a 37-3 record in their three seasons, but felt the incoming players were talented enough to at least keep the Red Devils in the chase for the Region 3-A title. It didn't work out the way he had hoped and Great Falls ended up 3-8. They were awarded a forfeit win from Denmark-Olar and wound up 4-7 on paper. But paper means little and Schofield realized there was work to be done. The talent was there, but the players were young and inexperienced. When games were on the line and he needed a big play, there were no Travis Cedenos, James Culps or Dupree Gills around to step up and break off a game-winning play. That should change this season. Most of the skill players are back and have a year's experience under their belts. They are ready to show that last year was a fluke, that this year people will again see what Red Devils' football is about -- big plays on offense and smash-mouth plays on defense. "This team has a lot of potential and because of the experience they got last year, our players understand the offense better,'' Schofield said. "We have some depth, so we are entering the season in a good situation. And this year, our players have the intensity level we expect. You can tell they are excited to be here.'' The offense promises to be explosive with Eldrick Simpson, Cedric Spence and Tony Hobson carrying the ball. There is a load of talent on hand to catch the ball, including wide receiver Jermaine Simpson and tight end Brandon Crawford. That brings us to the most important position on the field -- quarterback. After one season as the starter, Keo McCrorey graduated. There was a battle being waged for the starting spot between sophomores Gaither Bumgardner and A.J. Squirewell. Schofield said Bumgardner has all but sewn up the job. Squirewell will be the backup and start at linebacker on defense. "The biggest factor was Gaither picked up the offense a lot quicker,'' Schofield said. "And although he's a tall kid, Gaither does a good job running the option and he's quick on making reads. And because he's tall, he sees the field well. We plan to use him in some drop-back situations this year.'' That would be a big change for the Red Devils, who have been basically a run-first team out of the wing-T that used the pass to catch teams napping, plays that often turning into long-gainers or touchdowns. Bumgardner was the JV quarterback last season He's 6-foot-3 and weighs 160 pounds soaking wet. But he's intelligent -- a 4.2 student -- and makes good decisions. And it doesn't hurt that he has a good arm, a gift Great Falls receivers are waiting to open like a present under the tree on Christmas. "He's a great quarterback and we are looking forward to lining up with him,'' Crawford said. "He's tall, so he can see over the line and find the open lanes. "He's very smart in sports and in class, so he knows what to do and doesn't get rattled. But what I really like is his touch. He throws the ball right where it needs to be for us to catch it.'' Bumgardner is counting down the days until Great Falls opens its season on Aug. 25 at home against McCormick. He's worked hard to get ready for this year, while realizing all eyes will be on the new tall kid under center. He said "sure'' when asked if there was pressure on him to perform well after last year's down season, but added there is always pressure to win in Great Falls. The biggest lesson he's learned in preseason practice is that everything is a lot faster than it was at the JV level. "It's not just the players, it's having to learn all the plays so quickly,'' he said. "We ran the wing-T in JV football, but up here the offense is more complex -- double handoffs and more motion and plays. "What excites me is coach Schofield said we're going to mix it up more this year ... passing more than in the past. We have outstanding running backs in Eldrick, Cedric and Tony, but if teams line up to stop the run, we'll have the option to beat them with the pass.'' The Red Devils will have to rebound against a region that got a little tougher this season. Chesterfield has nearly everybody back and coach Steve Taneyhill has his team throwing the ball all over the field -- much like his style when he was the quarterback at South Carolina. Lewisville looks strong as usual, with a stable of talented running backs and a swarming defense, a trademark under coach Floyd Drum. Indian Land is coming off a school-record 11 wins and is rebuilding, but Warriors coach Mike Mayer has established a winning tradition and has the skill players to keep it going. North Central is back in the region after several years in Class AA, and McBee rounds out the family of six. But the veteran players at Great Falls, who were rookies last season, are anxious to start a new year and stomp out the memory of 2005. "I expect a lot more out of our players and our team this year,'' Jermaine Simpson said. "We feel we have the talent to make it to the state championship game and that it is a reachable goal if we play up to our potential. "And we expect big things out of Gaither. He's quiet and leads by example. But he stays calm, knows how to run the offense and throws the ball well. He gets the job done, and we believe our team is in good hands with him at quarterback.''
Note: Scores are as compiled by Dave Pickren and Gerald Doolittle from a variety of sources. If you spot an incorrect score, or if you have scores not listed please email us and let us know. |
