Bearcats begin fall practice with new-look defense
Leader photo by Matt Belinson The Ruston Bearcats practiced at Hoss Garrett Stadium Tuesday to launch their quest to defend their state championship.
The defending state champions are back on the turf at Hoss Garrett Stadium for the start of fall camp.
Ruston football began the grind of preseason practice with a pair of sessions Monday and Tuesday, looking to beat the heat of late afternoon with mid-morning start times, with offense and defense working through drills without pads.
Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh gave a mixed review for the first set of practices but knows the work is only beginning for the Bearcats as they begin their mission to defend their state title.
“Kind of up and down. I think we’re getting some things done,” Baugh said. “I know it’s hot and all that stuff. And we do a lot of this stuff, not for this length of time, but we do it throughout the summer. For a lot of our guys, it can get old without pads on. I think they’re ready for pads. But this is necessary. I think we’re getting some good out of it. I just wish I saw some more consistency out of some guys that we need to see consistency out of.”
Ruston’s defense stood out on Tuesday in team periods with returning All-District linebacker Zheric Hill securing a pick-six on a screen pass, following up an interception by sophomore defensive back Jayden Anding, the brother of Ruston’s All-State corner Aidan Anding.
“I saw some really good things out of some guys that have been able to make some plays. That’s good to see this early,” Baugh said. “The situation we had them in was a two- minute situation, so that was to win the ballgame. If you get one (thrown) at you, that’s the difference between winning and losing.”
Ruston’s offense stayed in spread formations, trying to limit contact inside the formation as much as possible as pads still have yet to come on.
Up front, defensive linemen Payton Bell, Kaleb Williams, Ethan Russell, and Keagan Goldsmith caused havoc with pressure on the offensive line, credited with multiple would-be sacks before the play was blown dead.
With the loss of Ahmad Breaux and Geordan Guidry to the college level, Ruston will need its new-look defensive front to make plays – much to Baugh’s approval on Tuesday.
“They’ve come a long way,” Baugh said of the defensive line. “I think our coaches have done a really good job of in JV games and plugging them in and even on Fridays to get them valuable experience. And it’s just one of those things you want to see them do snap after snap.”
The Bearcats will continue fall camp this week before moving into full pads later next Thursday and Friday.
