High school football squads prep for season with 7-on-7s at Gila Ridge

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - With summer quickly approaching, high school football teams across the Desert Southwest are already preparing for the upcoming season through offseason 7-on-7 competitions.

Gila Ridge High School hosted a series of matchups featuring San Pasqual, Cibola and Kofa, giving athletes an opportunity to sharpen their skills and renew rivalries ahead of the official start of preseason practices.

While players are still over a month away from putting on full pads, coaches are already evaluating effort and execution.

"I'm just looking for aggressiveness," Gila Ridge head coach Jessica Slaughter said. "Are guys gonna fly to the ball? Are they gonna be aggressive in their coverages? Are they gonna run routes with purpose? Are gonna fly to the ball - go to the ball to make a catch? That's really what I’m looking for - is just effort."

For many athletes, the summer competitions provide their first chance to return to the field after the previous season.

"It felt great coming back out, getting everything into repetition,” Gila Ridge senior Nohea Wiggins said.

Junior Daughtry Phillips is among the players adjusting to a new role this season after previously playing cornerback.

"It felt very nice [to get back on the field]," he shared. "I mean, last year I played corner so I'm playing a different position, but, you know, it's nice to get back out there catching the ball and trying to get picks, and stuff like that,” Phillips said.

The offseason drills allow players to focus on developing their understanding of the game before physical contact becomes part of preseason practices. For Phillips, the transition has required learning additional responsibilities within the secondary.

"It's been good just trying to learn a new position, because it's basically the same thing...it's still a defensive back, but you're also, in charge of the whole defense over the top...and then, you're also looking over the defense to try to see what needs help," Phillips said.

Like every team participating in the event, Gila Ridge is looking to build on last season's accomplishments while establishing a new identity for the year ahead.

"As in building on it, I think that [we're] not really [trying to] reflect on last year [and] build a new one this year. Keep a legacy, not just be a one-hit wonder, and then live up to our standard," Phillips said.

Wiggins echoed those expectations, saying the Hawks are striving to raise the bar even higher.

"I'm looking forward to repeat what we did last year, but at a higher standard,” Wiggins said. "Last year, we played at a higher standard, but we wanna take that up. We wanna be a perfect team. You can’t always be perfect, but as close as possible."

Teams throughout the region will continue participating in summer workouts and 7-on-7 competitions in the coming weeks before full-contact practices begin during the first week of August.