Area teams battle the heat in scrimmage openers

COLLINS — As the brutal August heat cranked up, area high school football teams were in scrimmage action over the weekend in the first of two tuneups for the upcoming season.On Friday, Western Reserve hosted New London and Galion Northmor. While rain sporadically came down throughout the area as the humidity level rose, the scrimmage was all clear for the Roughriders, Wildcats and Knights."By the time we started, it was a little warm," Western head coach Ty Stevenson said. "But it was probably very similar to the conditions we will play in the opener in a couple weeks, so I thought it was good for us to get some good conditioning in."With the new expanded playoff format, teams now just get a couple days of full-pad practices before scrimmaging another opponent. Knowing that, Stevenson felt his team's on pace with where he wants the 'Riders to be."We have some guys who have done a nice job of stepping up so far this summer and preseason," he said. "I feel like our offensive line is starting to get a little more comfortable with each other each day that goes by. "I felt like our guys did a nice job of doing their responsibilities and making sure they were playing hard," Stevenson added. "We have plenty of things we need to clean up and fix, but that is why we have these scrimmages."Northmor in particular is a perennial playoff team that is coming off a 9-3 season in 2021. "I was happy that we were able to stand in against their physicality and continued to play hard throughout the night," Stevenson said. "I thought our defense as a whole was pretty good for a first scrimmage."Western Reserve will visit Keystone at 5 p.m. Thursday in its final scrimmage. The 'Riders host Wellington on Aug. 19 in their season opener. Norwalk takes on Cloverleaf, CrestviewOLIVESBURG — The Truckers traveled to Crestview on Saturday to take on the Cougars and Cloverleaf in their initial scrimmage.Norwalk scored multiple touchdowns in each scrimmage against the Cougars and Colts."Scrimmages are critical to see our progress through the preseason," Norwalk head coach Todd Fox said. "We were very happy with how we performed today, as we have high expectations within us."We were very physical on both sides of the ball."After a tough 2021 season, Fox said the offense played well, including an interior line with four new starters this year."They pathed the way for our running backs," he said. "Jarren McClendon had a great day. Overall, we were very efficient in our run and pass game."Though not hiding from Norwalk's challenging schedule, Fox said Saturday's performance was a good start toward turning around a 1-9 record from 2021."Our guys have a chip on their shoulder this season and feel like they need to prove something," he said. "Ultimately, it is about us. We have a lot of work to do, but we feel today was a great start."Norwalk travels to former Northern Ohio League rival Shelby at 7 p.m. Friday in its final scrimmage. The Truckers host Mansfield Senior in their Aug. 19 season opener. Flyers in action at KeystoneLaGRANGE — St. Paul traveled to Keystone on Saturday to scrimmage another perennial playoff team that is two divisions bigger in size.The Wildcats were 9-2 last season and are 25-5 over the past three years. Keystone is led by wide receiver Ryne Shackleford. The All-Ohio wideout is also a three-time state track and field sprinter who recently committed to Purdue University for football.The Flyers had their work cut out in defending the 'Cats, but overall, things went to plan. "We have a lot of things to work on and get better," St. Paul head coach John Livengood said. "It was a good challenge going against a great program that is well coached with some very talented athletes. "Other than a few mental mistakes, our inside run period went well on both offense and defense."St. Paul hosts Edison at 6:30 p.m. this Friday in Norwalk in a scrimmage before traveling to Huron for the season opener on Aug. 19.