Roger Lee/Journal Scene

Quarterback Dalton Saunders hits an open receiver during practice.

The Green Wave football program started laying the groundwork for its 2009 campaign last week.

The team opened spring practice May 11 and will treat fans to an inter-club exhibition game at Memorial Stadium May 27.

The game is scheduled for 6 p.m., weather pending.

“We’ll do it Wednesday unless the weather messes us up,” Summerville coach John McKissick said.

“It’s always a good thing to get the players in the stadium and let them play. After two weeks of working hard at practice, I think it’s good for morale.”

If any of the team’s scheduled practices are cancelled because of thunderstorms, the date will be pushed back a day for each cancellation.

Last year, the South Carolina High School League changed its position on contact during spring practice, which allowed teams to put on pads and opened the door for the Wave to have the exhibition game.

Each team is still limited to 10 practice days.

Summerville had approximately 90 players come out for the varsity team, which is about average.

One of Summerville’s key interests this spring is finding a replacement for quarterback Donny McElveen, who graduates next month.

“We need more depth at quarterback, but we have good speed on offense and good skill people,” McKissick said.

“We have some big bodies on the offensive line, but we still need to work on our fundamentals there. On defense, we need to toughen up a little, but we do have some leaders returning on that side of the ball.”

Freshman Dalton Saunders and sophomore Matt McCombs are the frontrunners to start under center next fall.

Saunders was the starting QB for the Wave JV last season and McCombs was a backup on the varsity.

At running back, the Wave returns its leading rusher from 2008, sophomore DeAngelo Henderson.

Junior Devin Taylor returns as the team’s center and long snapper.  Junior Corley Bridges also returns with experience in the trenches.

McKissick says he is looking for junior linebacker Rondrick Tucker and junior lineman Brice Laughlin to help anchor the defense.

Tucker received the team’s Most Improved award for last season. Others returning to the defense with playing experience include defensive back Tyrone Williams, linebacker Darius Williams and Michael Scholz.

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.

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