CAIRO — Cairo football hosted other teams from across South Georgia for a 7-on-7 camp on Thursday. Thomas County Central and Thomasville were in attendance.

Each team played four different 40 minute games against other squads on a 40-yard field with a running clock. Central, Thomasville and Cairo did not play each other, but each competed against Pelham, Seminole County, Fitzgerald and Wakulla (Fla.).

For Cairo, it was an opportunity for a very young group to gain more experience ahead of upcoming scrimmages, including one against Class 6A state champion Valdosta before the season begins. The Syrupmakers won’t return many starters on either side of the ball this year after the departure of a big senior class.

“It’s good to get out and compete against somebody else,” Cairo coach Steve DeVoursney said. “They’re young and inexperienced, just trying to catch up. I was telling one of the coaches that there were two seniors playing defense the whole time today. That’s good and bad.”

Thomasville has more experienced, older players going into the season, but opted to play their younger ones in Cairo instead. The Bulldogs are in Dalton today and tomorrow for the Southeastern 7-on-7 Championship. Their starters will play there, including quarterback JT Rice, who did not attend the event last year due to an injury.

“We kind of mixed this up a little bit and we brought our young kids,” Thomasville coach Zach Grage said. “I wasn’t expecting a whole lot but I was actually very pleased, offensively and defensively. I saw three or four kids that could really open my eyes.”

Central is continuing its quarterback competition, and DeOndre Sullivan was in attendance to get all the reps at the position. Head coach Bill Shaver was more impressed with his team as the day went on, with the Yellow Jackets’ last matchup of the day against Fitzgerald being the high point.

“I thought we probably had our best round of football against them,” Shaver said. “We covered really well and broke on the ball well. By that time you’d think you’re worn down a little bit but we didn’t. That was our best set.

“It’s good to see different people and things that go on. The kids enjoy going out there and competing.”