Football ‘Back to Normal’ as 7-on-7 Drills Start

Columbia Central High School Coach Josh Kubiak draws up a play during a 7-on-7 drill at Onsted High School on Monday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(July 12, 2021 4:00 PM) Football coaches around the Jackson area may have celebrated a little bit of normal as 7-on-7 football drills started on Monday.

Last year COVID-19 knocked out summer drills and weight training in the school atmosphere.

Onsted High School hosted 7-on-7 drills with Columbia Central, Napoleon, and Whiteford attending.

Each team had approximately 20 to 25 offensive plays – without linemen – and the defense on the other side attempted to stop them .

The teams switched from offense to defense after the allotted number of plays. 

“We are just enjoying being back to normal, running around, and having some fun,” CCHS football Coach Josh Kubiak said. “Without these drills and weightlifting it made a big difference last year.

“We had a lot of first-year players who didn’t get a chance to learn in an atmosphere where there wasn’t a game going on.”

Columbia Central finished the season with a 2-5 record, defeating Onsted and Dundee in Lenawee County Athletic Association action.

Napoleon Coach Derek Shell wanted to see his players compete against a couple of rivals.

“I wanted to see the intensity brought by our players,” Shell said. “Our players are really hungry to learn and get back to business as normal.”

Napoleon started the season with a 15-14 win over East Jackson but lost six consecutive games to end the season.

“We have seen a lot of participation in the weight room,” Shell said. “Middle school football players are showing up too.”

A year after making it to the Michigan High School Athletic Association state semifinals, Onsted went 0-7 a year ago. The lack of drills and working in the weight room hurt a young OHS team.

“Every rep on the field against an opponent has to count,” OHS Coach Dan Terryberry said. “It is great to be back out here.”