By Derek Thompson
The Selma Times-Journal

Meadowview’s four-day spring football camp ended Thursday, May 7, but the team’s focus is still on improving on the field in 2015.

Trojans’ assistant coach, Scott Gunter, said his team’s goal is to make the playoffs and finish in the top-10 of its division next season.

“We worked on pass routes and how to take a handoff,” Gunter said. “We’re just going over basic stuff that some of these young kids need to know. We’re a young team and just kind of worked on fundamentals; catching and throwing, going over footwork and basic stuff that we do every year.”

Meadowview’s football team was limited in the amount of training days for spring practice due to several players being on the baseball team, which saw its season end May 4, in an 8-2 loss to Tuscaloosa Christian, and graduation being next week, Gunter said.

“We’re like two weeks behind AISA,” Gunter said. “We didn’t have a spring game because baseball finished so late. When baseball got through we had one week and a half before they started taking exams so we couldn’t do it.”

The Trojans, who switched to eight-man football in the Alabama Christian Athletic Association before last season after being low in numbers in recent years, are heading into the season with only four seniors, but Gunter said the players they do have are talented.

Gunter said freshman Zach Duke is a potential starter at quarterback.

“He is going to be playing on offense and defense,” Gunter said. “He’s got a lot stronger. Him and Mason (Kendricks) have gotten a lot faster since last year.  They’ve worked on speed in the offseason. They’ve lifted weights and gotten better.”
Kendricks will play on the offensive line and at linebacker, according to Gunter.

“He’s done good,” Gunter said. “He’s gotten better every year. He’s been starting on the varsity since the eighth grade. He’s really going to help us on defense and offense.”

Senior Dakota Sanders can play almost any position on the field besides quarterback, according to Gunter.

“He had a little knee injury during basketball so he’s recovering from that and getting better,” Gunter said.

Gunter said senior Tyler Steven possesses the physical traits to play wide receiver at a high level next season for the Trojans.

“He’s got a lot of speed and great hands,” Gunter said. “He’s really going to help us out.”

Short on players and training days, Gunter isn’t too concerned as long as the players are willing to work hard and show up when they are supposed to.

“These summer workouts are going to make a big difference for them,” Gunter said. “I hope they learned after seeing who was out there that we have a chance to win if we stick together and play as a team.”

The Trojans will not be taking part in a spring jamboree game this spring.