By Mike Mayer
Welcome to the 2025 first edition of our ever popular 50 Yard Line weekly column. Every week, usually the Tuesday following the last game, we write a little something about the last game as well as giving a brief synopsis of the upcoming game and a little about the Panther’s next opponent.
This week begins the second week of practice for the 2025 season. Last week was “heat acclimation week” where the team exercises, runs drills and formations in helmets and shorts in an attempt to acclimate their bodies to exertion in the high temperatures. This week will begin full pad and contact practice. Last week the temps were rather cool but this week they are expected to jump into the low 90’s. It won’t be fun but it will allow these young men to get themselves ready for the 10 game regular season.
This Saturday will be the one and only scrimmage. The Panthers will travel up to West Chester East for a two hour practice starting at 10 AM. Spectators are welcome and this is the first opportunity for the public to see the 2025 Panthers. There is no charge for admission.
For those who have never been to a football scrimmage here are some of the rules involved.
This is the first chance the Panthers have to be able to go up against an opponent this season. This is not a contest as no score is kept, there is no clock and downs are only tracked to allow coaches and players to simulate game conditions. Each team will get 10 offensive plays starting from their own 20 yard line. If there is a turnover (fumble or interception) the ball simply returns to the 20 and the offensive team gets to complete their 10 plays. Same thing if a touchdown is scored. After the first 10 plays offense and defense change to allow the other team to play offense. The players will be wearing practice jerseys which may, or may not, correspond to their correct game number jerseys.
Coaches stay on the field at all times and there are delays in the action between plays as coaches point out issues and mistakes to their players and make corrections. Varsity (starters) will play as a unit and then Junior Varsity. As the scrimmage goes on there will be lots of player substitutions as coaches play with combinations and want a chance to see their players in action against true opponents.
There will be three or four officials on the field who will call penalties and mark off penalty yardage (they need the practice too!)
In addition to running plays they may also try a couple of non-contact extra points and kick-offs just to get in some practice. These two teams have met for a scrimmage for many years so both sets of coaches are comfortable setting up the scrimmage with each other.
It will be hot (high of 89) so dress accordingly. Concessions are usually not available so bring water.
Your Havenfootball.net crew will be there and will be handing out our world famous (a bit of an exaggeration) laminated pocket schedules, courtesy of Swarthmore Pizza.
See you there!
