Branford gets first look at 7-on-7

Published 3:00 pm Wednesday, July 4, 2018

BRANFORD, Fla. — The Branford High School football team participated in its first 7-on-7 workout of the summer Thursday.

The Buccaneers, who have been conducting team workouts since early June, weren’t that crisp to start against visiting Aucilla Christian. But after the first possession of 10 plays, BHS quarterbacks Jevin Johnson and Seth Heiderman found rhythm with their receivers.

“It started out like I thought it would. I’m glad by the end neither (team) looked as rusty as the beginning,” said Branford coach Tim Clark. “We had guys that expected — after what I’ve seen in the spring and summer — come out and be playmakers for us.

“Junior Cress had a really good day — went up and got some deep balls. CJ Pepper is going to be a go-to receiver. Jevin Johnson threw the ball really well.”

Johnson completed 13 of 22 passes, many of those dropped in with a nice touch. Pepper led the way with seven catches. Two of those went for more than 30 years.

Heiderman went 6 of 12. Cress had six receptions while Trevin White, Dakota Stevens and Lakendrick Shonk tallied multiple receptions.

Heiderman, Stevens, Markell Pugh and Colton Leibold had interceptions for the Bucs, but defense was something Clark hopes improves.

“We’ve got to iron up some things on the back end because we’re really young in our coverages,” Clark said. “But overall, I thought the effort was good.”

Branford will host another 7v7 next week which also includes area team Hamilton County.