Spring ball done; just 84 days until South Pointe-Northwestern 2016 season opener

South Pointe concluded spring football Friday evening, starting the clock on the countdown to actual football this fall. The Stallions face crosstown rivals Northwestern in the 2016 season opener in 84 days.

The defending 3A state champs only lost once last season en route to a second consecutive title; in fact the Stallions’ biggest loss this school year will be at graduation with the departure of a number of proven winners, including QB Greg Ruff and his No. 1 target, Quay Brown, and college football-bound offensive line stalwarts Lamon Bryant and Paden Lipe.

“There's some spots where we're gonna be young and you can see a little bit of the inexperience,” South Pointe coach Strait Herron said after Friday’s scrimmage.

Ruff’s replacement has in effect already been named, highly touted 10th grader Derion Kendrick assuming the reins as of Friday evening. He and fellow rising junior Steven Gilmore Jr. showed that even with Ruff gone there will be plenty of elusiveness in the Stallions’ backfield. The question will be whether South Pointe can move the ball through the air with Kendrick.

“He's gonna need more reps,” said Herron. “The main thing is to learn how to read and know where to go with the ball before the snap's made and be able to do that kind of stuff.”

Rising senior Quinest Bishop showed the he can make some big-gaining downfield grabs. Bishop backed up Eastern Michigan-bound receiver Josh Wilkes last fall, but had two long catches Friday - one for a touchdown - and added an interception return for a touchdown.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 8:46 PM with the headline "Spring ball done; just 84 days until South Pointe-Northwestern 2016 season opener."