Lions set for first scrimmage of the season

The Albany Lions are closing out their second week of practice and will travel to Coleman tomorrow night for their first scrimmage of the season. Head Coach Denney Faith says the matchup will be an important first step in evaluating the team under game conditions.

Unexpected rain on Tuesday did not slow the Lions down. The team was able to get outside and complete its planned workouts before the weather worsened. “The field was a little muddy, but that’s good for us,” Faith said. “You never know when you’ll have to play on a wet field, so it’s good experience.”

The first two weeks have been demanding, with practices focused on fundamentals and position work. While Faith has an early sense of where players may line up, live competition will be the deciding factor in the final depth chart. “After these first two scrimmages, we’ll be able to make some decisions,” he said.

Coleman, who also faced Albany in a preseason scrimmage last year, will bring back a strong group. Faith expects the matchup to test the Lions in the right ways. “They always challenge us physically,” he said. “That’s exactly what we need this time of year.”

Injuries have been limited so far. Lineman Adrian Wren is recovering from a minor shoulder separation and is expected to return before the end of the season.

Kickoff in Coleman is set for Friday night at 6:oo p.m.