Published: Monday, Jul. 30, 2007 / Updated: Tuesday, Jul. 31, 2007 12:22 AM

Barrett ready for Year 2

YORK -- John Barrett is happy with the way his York Comprehensive High School football players are approaching the 2007 season.

Spring practice went well, the summer conditioning workouts were well-attended and the Cougars reported to York Middle School for team camp at 9 p.m. this past Sunday.

They went out for their first practice at midnight, then back out at 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday. The morning practice was a good one. The players showed no signs of having slept in the middle school gym or going out so late for their first practice.

Barrett oversaw the practice, moving between stations and getting in the middle of the action when the Cougars went to offensive and defensive drills.

Barrett took over for Steve Boyd last year, moving up from assistant coach. He led his team to a second-place finish in Region 3-AAAA with a 5-1 record, part of 8-5 overall.

York knocked off Beaufort in the first round of the playoffs but was beaten in the second round by Conway.

The task now is to repeat the success, but Barrett warned there are holes to be filled and questions to be answered.

"We have to replace all of our skill people on offense, all of them,'' Barrett said. "We're returning our offensive line, but the new kids in the backfield and at wide receiver are having to step into some big shoes. The good thing is they are working hard and handling it well.''

When school ended in the spring, York said so long to quarterback Tyrone Love, tailback Chris McCoy and wide receivers Marty Markett and Wayne Johnson. The latter two returned kicks.

All will be missed, but perhaps none more than Love, the player that made the Cougars go. Love had the speed and athletic ability that kept opposing defenses guessing. He passed for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns, running for 733 yards and six TDs.

Ryan Dennis and Adrian Crawford are in the running to replace Love, but Barrett said don't be surprised to see them in the backfield together.

"If we started tomorrow, they would split time,'' Barrett said. "They are both getting the same reps and can do different things.

"Adrian is the kind of kid, who at 6-foot, 195, can lower his pads and run through you. That wasn't Tyrone's style. You couldn't tag him in a drum. Ryan is a senior and makes good decisions. That's why you might see both of them in the same backfield at times.''

Dennis is a starter in the defensive secondary, which is why Crawford could have the edge at this point. Dennis acknowledged after Monday morning's practice that could be the case.

"I'll be playing a lot on defense and we'll be okay with Adrian at quarterback,'' Dennis said. "He's a very good athlete and has been doing a good job.

"We lost a lot of good players who graduated, but we've got good ones coming up through the ranks. We'll hold our own this year.''

Quention Wright and Adriane Kirkpatrick were moved to tailback. Wright played wide receiver and cornerback last season. Kirkpatrick was a defensive back.

Wright said the transition will be easy because he was a running back before moving to wide receiver. But, Wright added, he hasn't taken a handoff in varsity football.

"The last time I played running back was before I played on the JV team,'' Wright said. "But I'm comfortable with the move and will do anything I can to help the team where they need me.

"Sure, we lost a lot of good players but we can't look back. They were good leaders and taught us well. Now it's our turn, the seniors, to be leaders.''

Mark Dennis, Ryan's twin, Charlie Mobley and T.J. Easterwood move in at wide receivers. What hasn't been decided is which player, or players, is going to return kicks.

Last season Johnson and Markett struck fear into opponents when they fielded kicks. They had sure hands and fast feet, knowing when to cut.

Barrett said that's an area he and his coaches will address when the players can dress in full gear and start hitting.

"Right now, my hope is that teams kick off out of bounds and that we fair-catch all punts,'' Barrett said with a grin. "We looked good in shorts today and at spring practice, but it's hard to tell until you start hitting.

"We'll have our third practice (Monday), so we'll able to put on full pads (today). That's when we'll know a lot more.''

Billy Donahue, the Cougars' starting center, is back and feels good about the new skill players.

He said snapping to Crawford is a lot like snapping to Love, but that it's different with Dennis because of the way he holds his hands.

"But it's been no problem adjusting,'' Donahue said. "I've been Ryan's center since the seventh grade.

"And I feel good about our offensive line. All the new people watched last year. They practiced with us and some got in on a snap or two. Everyone of them know that they have to go out and get it done.''

YORK SCHEDULE

Aug. 17 Laurens at York 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 24 York at Broome 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 31 York at Hartsville 8 p.m.

Sept. 7 Chester at York 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 York at Lancaster 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 Fort Mill at York 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 Gaffney at York 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 York at Northwestern 8 p.m.

Oct. 19 York at South Pointe 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 Rock Hill at York 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 York at Clover 7:30 p.m.