By Kyle Roberts
The Ruston High School Bearcat football team is continuing to make strides through the summer as the regular season looms with less than two months to go before the opening kickoff against Warren Easton on Friday, Sept. 1.
Ruston’s primary focus following spring practice was 7-on-7 for most of the month of June, giving the offensive and defensive skill position players time to run formations and learn new sets heading into the fall.
“It had been a long offseason and lots of spring football, and we had a chance to catch our breath,” Ruston High head football coach Jerrod Baugh said. “We came back for June and were pretty steady for three days a week with weights, conditioning, and 7-on-7 drills.
“That was very productive for us. It was an opportunity for our kids to get out and compete against other schools in the area.”
For the last few years, Ruston had hosted the 7-on-7 events; however, this year the Bearcats traveled to West Monroe for three consecutive Tuesdays in June for competition. Baugh mentioned that the original plan for a new turf at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium was the main reason for the moving of 7-on-7’s.
The turf installation, however, will be moved to at least next season.
As previously reported, junior Aiden Anding crossed over from basketball shoes to football cleats and has been seeing time at the cornerback position where he has been excelling in his spot .
“Aiden had a really good spring,” Baugh said. “He had not been out on a football field for a really long time. He transitioned as well as I’ve ever seen having been removed from that for so long.”
A bright spot for the offense has been incoming freshman Ahmad Hudson, unofficially listed at 6-foot, 6-inches at the wide receiver position.
“We’re replacing quite a few guys offensively,” Baugh said. “Josh (Brantley) is now getting the majority of snaps at the quarterback position, and we don’t have Aaron Jackson. So we’re trying to find some receivers to step up in that spot.
“Of course, Logan Malone and Jamar Woods have the most experience in that spot. But Hudson has had an opportunity to get out and play some receiver for us this summer. He played quarterback all through junior high, but with his size and skill ability, I felt really comfortable that he was going to be able to get out there and catch the football.”
Ruston’s stable of running backs took a hit with Dyson Fields graduating after a stellar career as a Bearcat last year; now Jordan Hayes and Dylone Brooks will be the dynamic duo taking the majority of the rushing load.
“I think those two guys are having a good summer so far,” Baugh said. “You want to see those guys get some experience working together and with each other. They had not been used to getting all of the reps in the past that the starters get, and now they’re able to get that.”
And so despite the nearly unbearable summer heat, the Bearcats will continue forward with their eyes on the ultimate high school prize– a state championship.
“Up to this point, I think the summer has been really productive,” Baugh said. “The kids have been diligent about making sure that if they’re in town, they’re up here working and taking every opportunity they have to improve and be as good as they can be.”
