Photo by RR Best
Luke Harlan throws the ball.

•July 19, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

New Sullivan-Okaw Valley football coach Andy Kerley has had to use this summer as a crash course in familiarizing himself with his team and assistant coaches.

“It’s going well, I think,” he said. “It’s been a process both for the players and me. Me getting used to them and the new situation, and them adjusting to new things and me. I think in the past two-three weeks we’ve been gelling well.”

The summer has given Kerley a good idea of what strengths and weaknesses the team might have.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.

Photo by RR Best Cam Kesterson catches a pass during the Sullivan 7-on-7 tournament Saturday.

“I don’t know if anyone’s 100% ready for week one,” he said. “I think that’s why you see so much improvement from week one to two. I do feel like we’ll be ready to compete and execute the basics. We’ll build on it as we go along.”

SOV hosted camps, and its own 7-on-7 tournaments Saturday has helped the offense and defense get progressively better. SOV played five games.

The team also participated in a Charleston 7-on-7 tournament July 13.

“It’s been a great transition so far,” he said. “Many baby steps have been taken.”

Kerley has been working on the installation of the offense and defense and other basics, such as tackling and pursuit angles.

“Our first camp was just flat putting stuff in,” Kerley said. “Our 7-on-7s since June have been about expanding past the basics and getting more and more in.”

The Redskins’ first practice is scheduled for Aug. 7.

“As you see kids in the weight room you can start to identify who you can place trust in to get the job done and who needs improvement,” Kerley said.

Photo by RR Best
(White jersey) Dallas Dalby receives the ball from (red jersey) Luke Vander Burgh.

The first game of the year is scheduled for Aug. 25 against South Fork in Kincaid.