Summers gets first look at ACA for 2025
ACA quarterback Mason Henry rolls out as Christian Snipes looks on in the background during the Eagles’ 7-on-7 workout on Wednesday. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
Alabama Christian football coach Michael Summers got his first good look at offensive coordinator Tommy Shoemaker’s new offense in a 7-on-7 workout with three other teams on Wednesday morning.
“It’s the first time our offense has seen a defense, even in practice,” Summers said. “We’re about as unhealthy as we’ve ever been at this time of year but we saw some young guys step up and do some things.
“I thought we moved the ball well, we’ve just got to finish some things. For the most part, we did well on assignments on both sides of the ball. They competed, they acted the right way, they moved on from mistakes. Those are the kinds of things you want to see.”
The Eagles worked out with Verbena, Billingsley and Dallas County, giving ACA a slight advantage over smaller classification teams as quarterbacks Christian Snipes and Mason Henry worked with a less experienced group of receivers while tight end Jackson Burton and wide receiver Brycen Dabney continue to recover from offseason injuries.
“No disrespect (to the smaller programs), but we knew we were installing a new offense,” Summers said. “We’re still pretty young. You kind of pace yourself a little bit.”
On the offensive side, receivers Noah Shack, Addison James, Teilan Long and Gekar Kelly had some highlights, along with Ethan Dabney.
“Now, we’ve got to look for the consistency out of them,” Summers said, “but they showed flashes.”
Defensively, Dabney, Shack, safeties Levi Summers and Cooper Milner and linebackers Mekhi Gardner, Ladarrius Walters and Aidan Whiten played well, Summers said.
The news wasn’t as encouraging for the other teams in the three-hour workout.
“Every year, we lose a player,” said Verbena coach Allen Brothers, who was at ACA for the third consecutive year. “Last year, we had a kid who broke his leg, today we had a guy break his clavicle, so I don’t know how many times I can come back and have enough players left to play.”
A pass-oriented seven-on-seven drill isn’t ideal for a run-oriented Red Devil team, but Brothers keeps showing up because he likes the competition.
“We stress reps and don’t worry about the results,” he said. “Here, with no scoreboard on and no tournament format, you can just get max reps. It’s fun. Coach Summers does a great job with it. Last year, we played Brantley and St. James, so it’s fun to get out here and play competition that we know is better than us, but we just compete.”
The Eagles will hold another 7-on-7 next Wednesday featuring Georgiana, Isabella, Lee-Scott Academy and Hillcrest-Evergreen.