Clint Thompson
CNHI
THOMASVILLE —
Cairo fans will get their first look at the ’10 Syrupmakers Friday in Tifton.
According to Cairo coach Tom Fallaw, though, the scrimmage against the Blue Devils will serve more as a practice than as a game.
“I don’t know of any time in the last eight years that I’ve been here that we’ve looked good in a scrimmage,” Fallaw said. “Looking good in a scrimmage is not our top priority. Our top priority is getting these kids ready for the season. We actually do no game-planning at all for a scrimmage. We don’t even look at a tape of Tifton, to be honest. The kids don’t even know what they run. We just kind of show up and just blindly let the kids play a game, get used to some plays against different people and the speed of the game a little bit.”
Fallaw pointed out the Blue Devils have a different idea about the tilt.
“We’re playing at 8 p.m. on a Friday, which is different for us. Usually, we play on Thursdays and treat it more like a practice,” Fallaw said. “I think (Tift’s) wanting to build it up a little bit. To us, like I said, we’re approaching this strictly as we would do out here against ourselves.”
The scrimmage will also serve as a test for new Cairo quarterback Brandon McCrary. McCrary, the Syrupmakers’ third starting quarterback the last three years, replaces Brian Walker behind center.
“Everybody tries to make something of that. If we had a freshman or a sophomore that was good enough to start, we’d start them,” Fallaw said. “Everybody gets hung up on the new starting quarterback. In high school, that happens fairly often — unless you come across a special kid, like we did a couple of years ago with Angelo Pease, who was a two-year starter for us. Most of the time you’re going to have a senior who has sat there and waited his turn.
“Is McCrary new to the position in a game atmosphere? Yes. Has he been doing it with these kids for years? Yes, because he’s been playing ‘B’ teams and leading them in practice during those same time. Even though he’s new, he’s played with these kids. He’s grown up with these kids. The kids know him. It’s not like it’s somebody coming in from Indiana.”
Fallaw said finding a new quarterback is no different than having to find another starer at another position.
“We don’t get all upset because we have to replace a quarterback every year. We have to replace a running back every year. We have to replace a free safety every year,” Fallaw said. “Your older kids are going to be your starters, usually.”
Competing against McCrary for playing time is Grant Latmore, a transfer from Brookwood.
