Red Devils host Red/White intrasquad scrimmage

After just a few days of official practice, the Tippecanoe football team got to finally compete in front of a good crowd, as the Red Devils hosted their annual Red/White intrasquad scrimmage last Tuesday at the stadium.

Both the older experienced players and freshman newcomers all got to suit up and compete in a controlled play scrimmage. Coach Matt Burgbacher was pleased with what he saw considering it was their first time in live action.

“This was great and it is our first full contact of the season,” Burgbacher said. “Offense had their moments, defense had theirs also. The one thing that is hard to coach because it has to come from the kids is intensity, and no doubt, there was some hitting out there tonight.” “We came out healthy and that is a key part of this. Iron sharpens iron and it was our offensive line going against our good defensive line and neither one of them really dominated. But I love the effort.”

One of the things Tipp will rely on is a very consistent defense and Burgbacher was happy with what he saw.

“Our defense puts pressure on people and we are a bend but don’t break type of defense,” Burgbacher said. “Having a guy like Collin Isaac out there, we struggle to block him, he is all over the field.” “Tonight was also big for the offense also and it was big for our quarterbacks and receivers getting the live action. We do a lot of this in practice but not to this intensity. It is hard to simulate that intensity.” Burgbacher will use this scrimmage as a good gauge for his team, and with a couple of good weeks of practice under their belt, he is happy how far these kids have come since the start of summer.

“Offensively, the guys are coming along,” he said. “June 2 when we started, yeah it was a little rough, but to see the growth these guys have made has been tremendous and have gotten really good at what we do.” “We just have to continue to work and get better.”

Tipp also traveled to Beavercreek this past Saturday for a four-team scrimmage with Alter and Little Miami, then the Red Devils will host Anna this Friday at 7 p.m. in their final tune-up for the season. The Red Devils open things on August 22 at Bellbrook in a clash of heavyweights from the Dayton area.