The Lake Oconee Academy football team continued to work on and off the field during its summer workouts earlier this week.
The Titans were up early in the morning to hit the weightroom before going out onto the field to learn more about schemes and walk through plays.
Former Titans’ defensive coordinator and current head coach Patrick Stewart believes his players are taking to changes being made around the program well.
“I think it’s a huge change from last year, man. Kids have just changed their bodies immensely,” Stewart said. “Physically and mentally, they’re just stronger and tougher. We have really turned up the summer program a lot from a strength and conditioning standpoint, and the kids are killing it.”
Strength and conditioning has been the main focal point for the Titans over the offseason.
Stewart’s emphasis on getting his players in better shape stems from Lake Oconee Academy’s upcoming schedule. This will be the first season that the Titans will play a full varsity schedule, which is made up of 10 non-region opponents.
At such a small school, Stewart acknowledged how some kids will need to be ready to play both sides of the ball.
“At most [Class A-Public] schools, most of the kids are playing both ways, so it’s going to change the game for us,” Stewart said. “These kids are going to be able to last all four quarters and not just a half. It’s molding them into not just better football players, but better overall athletes as well.”
During its morning workout on Monday, the team broke up into two groups: linemen and skill players.
Stewart believes that ultimately, the linemen core, both defensive and offensive, will be their anchor.
He also recognized a couple of skill guys on the offensive side of the ball that have been impressive so far.
“Cameron Kelley has been great. He’s going to be a running back and linebacker type, and we expect big things from him,” Stewart said. “Reid Davis, another skill guy who will probably play running back, is another guy we expect big things from.”
Lake Oconee Academy won two out of its six games last year, and with more opponents to come, the Titans will continue to focus on themselves over the summer in hope that it leads to more wins.