GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Though area teams tend to relish the chance to compete in 7-on-7 passing scrimmages, Clay High football coach Kyle Kennard is working on the premise of historical Clay High football.

“We are not built for 7-on-7 kind of stuff,” said Kennard, who has had 7-on-7 scrimmages against Bolles and Nease recently. “We just line it up and run the ball, eat the clock.”

Clay has road schedule 7-on-7 at Keystone Heights on Tuesday, June 20.

Against Williston, a top Class 1A program in the Gainesville area, Kennard was a bit disappointed in the first half outcome; a 21-0 deficit that could have been 28-0 not for a penalty and was hopeful that the experience would be a wake up call for the leaders of the 2023 squad.

“We knew Williston was going to be good and that became a learning experience,” said Kennard. “We were doing things in the first half that we were not doing all during the spring team scrimmages; snapping the ball three times over the quarterback’s head; one for a safety. Before we blinked, 30 seconds into the game, it was 9-0.”

Kennard was aware that the game was wet, raining, moppy, but did not want to excuse bad play on weather.

“They executed in the same weather,” said Kennard. “When it is like that, smart play will win the day.”

Kennard is optimistic as his summer days have been full rostered in the searing heat with a team camp approaching down at Webber International.

“We have had great participation so far in the summer stuff,” said Kennard.

Clay’s future for the rest of ther is to condition, be a dominant strong force into the second half as in past years and be back to Clay football; rugged and strong.

“We are big up front; Cody Mobley and Eli Iscoa, a junior, looked good and will have some adjustments there against a good front like Williston,” said Kennard. “Omar Goosby looks dominant as a defensive linemen for us. Senior wide receiver Payton Dykas will be our focal point on offense. Chandler Thomas at running back is strong and healthy and he is Clay football; just running downhill.”