Lauren Estes

Hartselle Enquirer

Blue and gold jerseys took the field at Burl Vest stadium Saturday night in an intersquad game to prepare for the 2015 season.

Head football coach Joel Schrenk says the much improved Blue Devil team will open with Phil Campbell on Fri., Aug. 21, at home and they are hoping for much support from the community.

“Tonight showed us where we needed to be more fundamentally sound and that we really needed to focus on doing our individual jobs,” Schrenk said. “I think it was successful and thankfully nobody got hurt in the process. I felt like tonight went very well.”

Burl Vest stadium featured a new field, without numbered hash’s or a lit scoreboard for the practice game, but also a group of excited Falkville players and bleachers filled with fans decked out in royal blue.

“About a month after being head coach, I talked with Ed Henry, Arthur Orr, Don Stisher, Chris Smith, and Marcus Woodall and it got in the works about getting a new field, so it’s been a discussion for 2-3 years,” Schrenk said. “It was tied all together after we received some grant money to finish it. The community support to get it done and the plan that was laid out was such a blessing. We were able to move the sod from the old field to the practice field and now we have two great locations for the kids to play on.”

One of the key differences in the 2014 versus 2015 season is preparation, Schrenk said.

“I feel like I didn’t prepare them enough before the  start of the season last year,” Schrenk said. “We are and will be more prepared this time. We will be meeting Monday, Tuesday andWednesday mornings to watch game film. On Monday’s, we will focus on Friday’s night’s game and breaking it down, and on Tuesday and Wednesday we will prepare for the next opponent.”

Every game is important, but a few teams in particular stick out to Blue Devils.

“Addison, Cold Springs, Terrant, and Tanner and key games; Those are games we really have to focus on to get into the playoffs,” Schrenk said. “We didn’t make it to playoffs last year and those are games that we lost and could have made the difference. “

A few players that have already made an impact this season and Schrenk said their skill set could be the difference in the game.

“Defensively, look for nose guard Jordan Pace, linebackers Caleb Vinson and Devin Reed and cornerback’s Logan Vinson and Andy Dove,” Schrenk said.

“Offensively, offensive lineman Taylor Davis, Blake Eason, running back’s Devin Reed and Caleb Vinson and receiver’s Logan Vinson, Zac Brown and Bryan Holmes. Our skill players are really good. Andy Dove reminds me of Aaron Estes; I can let him loose and know he’s going to make plays, especially in the cornerback position.”

Falkville will host Phil Campbell on the season opener at 7 p.m. at Burl Vest Stadium on Fri., Aug. 21.