Since April 27, the junior varsity and varsity Patriot football teams of Pace High School have been hard at work with spring practice which concludes at the end of this week with a spring game against rival Milton High School on Friday night.
Coming off a 5-5 record this past season, longtime head football coach Mickey Lindsey is looking to build upon this past season’s finale.
“We started out 0-3, I think we had some good games…I think our schedule is very, very, very difficult,” Lindsey said. “I thought we finished the season with a very positive note with a win against Milton.”
Lindsey said his team is showing strides in practice from both his varsity and JV teams, which total 100 students.
“It’s a great time, we get to see how far along they are and how far we got to go,” Lindsey said. “I feel like we have got a lot accomplished with the kind of attitude they got; I am pleased with where we are right now.”
Many players are experience their first time on a high school football roster, like Jack Myers who is approaching his sophomore.
“It’s been going pretty good,” Myers said. “I know I am improving, but I know the whole team is improving as a whole as well.”
Playing football is nothing new for Myers who previously played football for the Pace Athletic and Recreation Association, or PARA. Myers said it has been different practicing alongside players of his size and larger.
“It’s good change,” Myers said.
Myers plans to make an impact at the outside linebacker position on this season’s JV roster and potentially earn a spot on the varsity roster in his junior year.
Running back Jamond Hadnot has liked what he has seen from the freshmen class so far.
“They have been working,” Hadnot said. “We have been on them as seniors.”
Hadnot is looking forward to playing a full season with the team after transferring from Milton High School, last year.
Regardless, Hadnot is looking forward to his senior year on the team.
“I plan on playing a full season with these guys,” he said. “It will be fun.”
The Patriots will undergo summer workouts for six weeks beginning on June 15.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Patriots gearing towards season with spring training