By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

SAVANNAH – Effingham County's 7-on-7 workouts may not count in wins and losses, but they add up in importance for a football squad looking to replace all its starting receivers and pass defenders.

For the second straight week, the Rebels were bussed to Savannah on June 21 for a competition with three teams, hosted by Savannah State University at the Jennifer Ross Soccer Complex.

ECHS lost three of its four games. But the important number was four. Coach John Ford and his Rebels had four chances to mix and match groups on offense and defense in 30-minute clashes.

"It was hot on the (artificial) turf, but our kids battled," Ford said. "It was a good day of work."

Seven-on-7 competitions look more like Saturday afternoons in the park rather than the Friday nights they hope to prepare teams for. Players wear no equipment. Quarterbacks don't face a rush, but they must read seven defensive backs blanketing the five receivers.

"It's better than practicing against your teammates," ECHS junior Lamar Roberts said. "(Against teammates), you're trying to do something against them that they already know. They've seen it 100 times. Now someone is seeing your moves for the first time. You get a chance to perfect your craft."

The sure-handed Roberts was a bright spot for the Rebels. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound wide receiver/cornerback hopeful is vying for more playing time this season after the graduation of Keion Wallace, Timmy Brown, Ashley Thompson and Messiah Bacon.

Roberts caught two touchdown passes during the day and returned an interception for a TD to secure the lone win against Andrew Jackson High School from Jacksonville.

"I don't look into the future," Roberts said. "The more I work, the more I can show (the coaches) what I can do at wide receiver and corner."

Ford has noticed.

"Lamar's speed is such an asset to him and he's working on becoming a complete (receiver and defender) in all assets of the game," Ford said. "We graduated some skill guys last year and we need guys to step up; and he's one of the guys who did that."

The Rebels' all-region quarterback Nate Hayes missed the Savannah workout, providing more snaps for backups Landen Wright, a rising senior, and Tucker Perkins, a rising sophomore.

But it was a tough day against the speedy skill players of Andrew Jackson and Jacksonville Ribault. Andrew Jackson, an 8-3 team a year ago, brought an "A" team and a "B" team.

"We played two teams that had a bunch of (speedy) athletes," Ford said. "I wouldn't mind coaching track at either of those schools. They can make you look like a smart coach.

"I think our quarterbacks learned you can't hold the ball. You can't be late on your reads. We learned some hard lessons and they made us pay for some indecision."

After the workout, Ford said Savannah State University coach Aaron Kelton extended offers to Rebel seniors Zach Gant and Gary Cooper.

SSU already has two wide receivers from Effingham County – Khiry Wallace and Randy Scott.

"We like to put our kids in front of college coaches so they can be seen," Ford said. "This was a good day."