Glendon Poe | The Valdosta Daily TimesValwood receiver Mark Henderson makes a cut against a Tiftarea Academy defender during a 7-on-7 passing workout Monday in Hahira.

HAHIRA, Ga. — The Valwood Valiants are no strangers to having players take up both offensive and defensive responsibilities. It’s a constant for the GISA Class 3A program.

The Tiftarea Academy Panthers, with 24 players on their roster this summer, have about half the number of Valwood.

“Everybody’s going to have to contribute and everybody’s going to have to play,” said Panthers second-year coach Tully Payne after Monday’s 7-on-7 passing workout against the Valiants at Valwood’s practice field.

The number of players on the field wasn’t important during the hour-long session. The reps, however, were important.

“Anytime you can go against somebody else and get a look it’s always good,” Valwood coach Ashley Henderson said. “And to see some different looks is always important, too. I thought everybody did a good job of coming out and competing.”

Both Valwood and Tiftarea lifted weights earlier Monday morning, so both programs built up some strength and endurance before the workout ended just shy of noon.

“We’re not keeping score or anything like that,” Henderson said. “We’re working out with each other and getting some live quality reps against a quality opponent.”

Each offense did three sets of 6-8 reps during the helmets-only passing exercise. Starters took two of the three sets.

Valwood starting quarterback Will Clifton made good reads and looked sharp during his reps, Henderson said. The coach said the junior QB has a good grasp of the offensive scheme and a good knowledge of the direction the coaching staff wants to take it.

Clifton and Grant McLendon, who is taking up wide receiver and linebacker duties, served as backups for last year’s starter Jacob Parker.

The Valiants have plenty of players who know the offense front and back, such as McLendon and Ben Crump. Players, such as senior receiver Ronnie Wengert, who returned to the team during last week’s organized team activity with Lanier County after being out of town all month, know their roles.

Then there are players moving into new roles and quickly adapting. Mark Henderson, a senior, didn’t play much receiver at all last season. But he began learning the position when the Valiants picked up where they left off.

“He’s really stepped up and done a nice job of learning what to do, but when he gets the ball in his hands, he’s a very explosive kid,” the coach said.

One of the biggest question marks surrounding Valwood’s defense is at linebacker: Who’s going to pick up for the versatile Gahnon Byington?

The answer this summer has been Cole McClendon.

“We’ve bumped Cole McClendon inside and I think Cole does some things where, physically, he might not be where Gahnon was but, mentally, he’s there,” Henderson said. “Cole will be a leader for us on defense.”

UP NEXT

Valwood visits Berrien for an OTA at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday before hosting Lanier County for another workout at 11 a.m. Thursday.