Defending champs start practice in good shape
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions officially began life as defending state champions Monday, July 31 with the first practice of the 2023 football season.
Head coach Denney Faith had 39 players on hand for the first workout with a couple more expected to report later in the week.
“I think some of them came in pretty good shape, and some of them are going to have to get better,” Faith said on Monday afternoon. “For the most part, I thought the first session was pretty productive.”
Teams are required to go through a five-day acclimation period this week with only noncontact drills in helmets and shorts allowed.
“We’ve got to get acclimated to the heat,” Faith said. “A couple of guys who played JV last year will have to move up, and we’ve got some new guys. We’re going through a big learning process right now.”
Albany returns 11 lettermen with six starters each way from the 2022 Class 2A Division II state championship team.
Adam Hill, selected at both running back and defensive end, offensive lineman Zane Waggoner, and defensive back Wyatt Windham were named this week to the Abilene Reporter-News’ All-Big Country Preseason team.
Other returnees are seniors Cason Fairchild, Tyler Chapman, Parker Shelton, Cole Read, and Lanxton Viertel, along with juniors Branson Beal, Landon Balliew, and Laithe Leech. Also, senior Houston Heatly returns after missing last season because of injury.
While Faith said most returning players will likely assume the roles they had last year, he didn’t rule out any position changes in an effort to get the best 11 on the field.
“We’re expecting 20 to 22 kids on the varsity, so they’re going to have to know multiple positions anyway,” he said.
As big a thrill ride as last year’s 14-2 campaign was, Faith is moving forward.
“The first thing I said to the guys Monday morning was ’22 is over,” he said. “It’s ’23 now. This is a new football team, and it’s time to get up and go.”
The championship brings positives and negatives entering the new season. On the negative side, the Lions will have a big bull’s eye on their backs.
“I think we’ve always had the bull’s eye,” Faith said, “but it obviously grew a little bit coming off a championship.”
The positive is how many players went through the process last year and know what it will take to enjoy that level of success.
“Our motto this year is ‘Earn It’,” Faith said. “It’s not going to be given to you; everything you get is going to have to be earned. That goes from playing a position to winning a game.”
The Lions will begin contact drills next week in advance of a scrimmage at Coleman. A scrimmage at Early will cap the third week before the season opener Friday, Aug. 25 at Lubbock Trinity Christian. Albany’s first home appearance will be Friday, Sept. 1 against Dublin.
Faith said he is looking for a junior varsity game for Thursday, Aug. 24 since the matchup against Trinity is only for varsity.
