Kennett holds voluntary football camp (View 50 Photos Here)

Staff Photo by Dustin Ward
Kennett football players on the practice field shortly before the start of camp Tuesday night.

KENNETT, Mo. - The Kennett Indians football program continued to prepare for the upcoming season Tuesday night.

Players and coaches met for a voluntary camp at the Kennett practice field Tuesday evening from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Players and coaches are also slated to meet at the same time Wednesday and Thursday.

"The kids are working hard," Kennett varsity football coach Corey Adkisson said following Tuesday night's camp. "Meeting in the summer is not mandatory, but the kids have really been committed this summer. We are proud of where we are right now, but the kids and coaching staff also understand we've still got a long way to go. We are still trying to turn this thing around. We improved last year from the season before, but we want to continue to improve.

"We want to be toward the top of the conference and district," Adkisson continued. "We've got to compete with teams like Dexter, New Madrid, Caruthersville, Ste. Genevieve and Park Hills. We want to be in the mix with those teams and we have to outwork those teams. We know their programs are more established and we've got to really work hard to get up to their level."

Adkisson said participation has more than doubled at his summer camps in 2012.

"Nothing has really been that different," Adkisson said, when asked if he is conducting the camps the same way he did last season. "We've just had better participation this summer. I think it helped I was in the school system this year."

Kennett's first football practice is slated for Aug. 6 at 8 a.m.

"August 6 is the first day of mandatory practice," Adkisson said. "If anyone wants to be a part of the football team they must be here August 6."

Kennett's annual football Gatorade Game is scheduled for Aug. 16 at the Kennett High School football field. Kennett's football jamboree is Aug. 17 at East Prairie.

Kennett opens the season on Aug. 24 when it hosts Fredericktown. Kennett will play four consecutive road games following its home opener.

Kennett has added Paragould, Ark., to its schedule this season. Kennett dropped Sikeston and Gosnell, Ark.

"I think we've got a good, solid schedule," Adkisson said. "It's going to test us and I hope our kids are up for the test."

Note: This story will also be available in Thursday's Daily Dunklin Democrat.

2012 Kennett Varsity Football Schedule

Aug. 24 - Fredericktown

Aug. 31 - at Portageville

Sept. 7 - at New Madrid County Central

Sept. 14 - at Paragould, Ark.

Sept.. 21 - at Dexter

Sept. 28 - Charleston

Oct. 5 - Caruthersville

Oct. 12 - Malden

Oct. 19 - at East Prairie

Oct. 25 - District Opener