A midnight smackdown

By KELLIE DIXON, Times Staff Writer
Published August 12, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - The Nature Coast stadium lights pierced the black sky, flooding the football field and sending chills among the 40-some Sharks who kneeled to listen to coach Jamie Joyner.

It was Thursday, just after midnight. And, after three days of practicing without pads, it was about dang time to hit somebody.

Finally. After a few stretches and conditioning drills, it was on.

Thwack.

Crunch.

Smack.

The faint scent of a nearby cow pasture was replaced on the field by the occasional whiff of sweaty football pads.

Joyner has stressed to the players that to get what you've never gotten - back-to-back district titles for starters - you have to do what you've never done.

For every member of the Nature Coast team that showed up - about half the squad - Thursday's impromptu practice was a first. The coaches had kicked around the idea of having a Midnight Madness event and decided to go for it on Wednesday.

Parents were notified. Some called Joyner to make sure their kid really did have practice from midnight to 2 a.m. Some milled around the field or in the parking lot watching the late night practice.

On the field, the players cheered, winced and talked smack. The banter continued after the final huddle and their eyes shone with a mixture of excitement and fatigue.

"It was wonderful," junior linebacker Britt Langley said walking off the field. "It's been a long time since we've gotten to hit something."

Langley admitted he was ready for a nap. Senior quarterback/linebacker Stephen Pelaez said he was ready to plunge into the swimming pool, but noted his excitement about the Sharks.

"We look good," Pelaez said. "We looked fast. We definitely are stronger than we were in the spring."

And maybe a bit more cohesive. Langley said the team has jelled quite a bit since camp.

"I've got a good feeling about this, season," Langley said.

Kellie Dixon can be reached at kdixon@sptimes.com.

[Last modified August 11, 2007, 20:25:01]