By Daniel Evans

The Selma Times-Journal

 

Last season, Selma’s football team went 4-6, but the Saints built some momentum towards the end of the season that they are hoping to carry over into 2013.

This offseason the Saints have been working hard in the weight room and have participated in a 7-on-7 event at Southside High School. On July 23, they will take part in another 7-on-7 at Southside.

“Summer is going great. The kids are working very hard. The participation is great. We’ve got over 90 percent of the kids showing up every day. That’s exciting. Being able to get some young coaches to come in and work in the program that are excited,” Selma head coach Leroy Miles said. “Young energy is great. At this point I am very pleased with where we are heading in our football program. Hopefully, we can transfer what we are doing in the weight room to the football field like we did this spring. I am excited about this year.”

Selma’s starting quarterback, Jesse Boggs, has used his summer going to camps and leading the Saints offense in 7-on-7 drills. Miles says he can see the difference.

“I think Jesse Boggs, quarterback, has improved so much by going to the different camps he is going to and getting some one-on-one coaching from some college coaches. It has helped him tremendously. His footwork is great,” Miles said. “Even in the 7-on-7, I tell him keep working hard. Work hard, work hard. Just getting his drops. His work is getting his drops. The quicker you can get back in your drop, the better the opportunities are to see the field. I was very pleased with 7-on-7 from that standpoint. “

“To see Earnest Gunn and Kendarius Brown go up and make some big catches in the game, was exciting. I was pleased with how we played. I don’t get into the win/losses deal,” Miles said. “We were successful there but that really doesn’t matter. You just want the kids to be able to get some work, to get some live action against some teams that they don’t normally see during the season. “

Selma hosts cookouts on Thursdays and Miles would like to see more of the community come out to those.

“We do cookouts on Thursdays. I’d like to see some of the community come out and be a part of some of those cookouts and see how hard the kids are working,” Miles said. “Just kind of be around to socialize with them. It kind of helps the kids to see that they’ve got support. “

As for the rest of the summer, Miles says he would like participation in his summer workouts to improve to 100 percent.

“I would like for some of our kids to become more of leaders and go get some of those kids that are not showing up to workouts,” Miles said. “Go get those kids that aren’t showing up so we can be 100 percent with participation.”