Bearcats wrap up productive 7-on-7 summer league
Photo by Josh McDaniel
Logan Malone will lead a dynamic room of pass-catchers for the Bearcats in 2023.
After a month’s worth of live competition against fellow north Louisiana programs, the Ruston High football team has wrapped up its summer 7-on-7 schedule.
The Bearcats were one of a handful of teams spending their Tuesday nights in Monroe throughout June, taking advantage of the opportunity to face familiar opponents and run through base offensive and defensive play calls.
Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh believes his team learned more about itself during the 7-on-7 league and found the experience valuable.
“I think it’s been really productive, and if you keep in perspective what you’re trying to do, you can learn a lot from it,” Baugh said. “There are some teams that are trying to win 7-on-7 games. We want to use this for the competition level against teams in our area, and we utilize it as a practice more than anything else.”
During 7-on-7 work, passing is highly emphasized, with routerunning and obvious passing situations making up most of the work.
With no pads or tackling allowed, the benefits come from the repetition of play calling and building system comfortability.
Baugh said junior quarterback Josh Brantley, who is stepping in as the new starter, looked steady during the month of work and made strong, decisive throws to his targets in what essentially looks like a two-minute offense.
The Bearcats will lean on returning pass catchers Logan Malone and Zhy Scott in the passing game, along with Jamar Woods.
Before he moved on from Brantley’s spread of receivers, Baugh made sure to include incoming 6-5, 200-pound freshman Ahmad Hudson as a potential breakout candidate.
“He’s worked his way up the depth chart really quickly. Obviously, his size helps with that,” Baugh said. “I’ve been impressed with how quickly he picked up the offense. Big, long, rangy kid with good ball skills. I expect him to be out there helping us this year.”
Ruston went 12-2 last season and made the school’s first state championship appearance since 1998, a feat Baugh and his squad have no intention of falling back from in 2023.
And while 7-on-7 is by no means real, live football, Baugh said every rep and every minute counts in the offseason for the Bearcats.
Want to keep the standard high? Valuing 7-on-7 work is as important as all the rest.
“You can win or lose ball games in the summer,” Baugh said. “That’s where you build in your base and what you’ll showcase during the season. This summer is very instrumental in having that base built in going into fall practice. I don’t think every ball game is won or lost, but it absolutely builds that base in. If you do it daily, you’ll be in better shape.”
The Bearcats’ 2023 season kicks off at home against Warren Easton on Sept. 1. Prior to that game, the Cats will travel to West Monroe Aug. 25 to take on the Rebels at 8 p.m. as part of the annual Bayou Jamb high school jamboree weekend.
