Greyhound football staff to make decisions over the weekend

Scott Nuzum/Herald-Tribune Running back Jasmin Hopkins (6) makes his way downfield as Bryant Sanders (36) and other defensive players try to make the tackle during Fort Scott Community College's closed scrimmage at Frary Field Friday night. The Greyhounds, ranked No. 18 in the national pre-season junior college football poll, play their first game next Saturday at No. 14 Kilgore (Texas).

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- There shouldn't be anything Fort Scott Community College's football team won't be ready for when it opens the season next Saturday night at Kilgore (Texas) College.

The Greyhounds ran though nearly every conceivable offensive, defensive and special-teams scenario at least once a closed scrimmage at Frary Field Friday night. Some of that was because of new rules that come into effect this season, such as changes to the play clock, which will now be used in a similar fashion to the NFL.

Some of that was also to be ready for anything that might happen when the 'Hounds, ranked No. 18 in the NJCAA/jcfootball.com pre-season poll, face the 14th-ranked Rangers.

"We try to make sure we they're coached in a situation at least once," Fort Scott head coach Jeff Sims said. "We did try to cover everything we think may happen. At this level, you're dealing with true freshmen, a lot of them, so you need to make sure they're used to a situation at least once."

The Greyhound coaching staff has some decisions to make over the weekend as they try to cut down to Jayhawk Conference roster limits. By rule, they don't have to turn in a final roster until they board the bus on Friday to head for Kilgore. For practical purposes, they'll most likely have things sorted out by mid-week as they try to pare the roster down to 12 out-of-state players and 43 from Kansas high schools.

One player, at least, may have helped himself and it could well be a good thing he did. The Greyhounds will carry only one out-of-state tailback but two got a lot of carries in the scrimmage.

"I saw Chris Douglas step up at tailback," Sims said. "He showed that he wants to play this year and I'm proud of his effort."

Going into the scrimmage, there were 18 players still in contention for the out-of-state spots and 47 for the in-state spots. And it's not going to be easy to sort out those last few positions.

"I don't want to say anyone solidified themselves until I watch the film," Sims said. "There's some good players out here, so the battles change daily. Player 'A' has a good day one day and you think he's about to make his move. Then Player 'B' makes up his mind the next day and looks like he's the one."

"There are some players who will get redshirted this year and I respect the effort they give because they work really hard. We just have to find the best 12 to suit our team."