Swamp Fox coaches say there are some positives to take away from the 2017 Ashley Ridge Football Spring Practice.

Ashley Ridge recently wrapped up its Spring Practice with its annual Spring Game at the high school, an event that provides coaches one last chance to evaluate players going into the summer break.

We learned as a staff that we have a bunch of guys that are hardworking and play for each other, Ashley Ridge coach Kenny Walker said. Team chemistry is a goal for us and I think that we are off to a good start.

Graduation left the team with some key holes to fill. The Swamp Foxes lost their two leading rushers from last season and their leading receiver.

However, the team stands to return two quarterbacks with varsity experience, some receivers who have been in the fire and some other experienced varsity lettermen.

Rising seniors Matthew Duncan and Bryce Bryan are expected to return after seeing time behind center last season. Duncan led the team in passing, completing 87 passes for 922 yards and seven touchdowns. Bryan completed 13 of 23 pass attempts for 108 yards. Between them, they threw only two interceptions.

Bryan also has experience at other skills positions, which is something the Swamp Fox coaches like in a player.

Another goal was for us to establish some good depth and we have used the spring to work guys on both sides of the ball or at (multiple) positions on the side of the ball they are on already, Walker said. We feel that it will help us throughout the grinding season.

Rising senior JJ McAfee stands to return at the receiver position after making 23 receptions last season.

Graduation didnt hit the Swamp Fox defense as hard.

Ashley Ridge stands to return four of its top five tacklers from last season. Rising seniors J Mitchum, Owen Trephan and Nijay Hill and rising junior Ben Mitchum combined for just less than 300 tackles last season. Ben Mitchum and Trephan are linemen while J Mitchum is a linebacker and Hill a defensive back. Hombre Kennedy also stands to return to the defensive backfield after breaking up five passes and intercepting three last season.

Linebackers Darius Smith and Aveyuan Dennis and DB Rodney Oldham are among the other athletes who stand to return to the Swamp Fox defense after making considerable contributions last season.

The Ashley Ridge skills players will hone their skills this summer during passing camps and competitions. Ashley Ridge will host Fort Dorchester for a passing camp at 11:15 a.m. June 6 and host Summerville for a camp at 11 a.m. June 22.

The Swamp Foxes will send squads to the 7 on 7 competition at University of South Carolina June 9 as well as to camps at 6 p.m. June 8 at Fort Dorchester and at noon June 29 at Summerville.

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Swamp Foxes working on chemistry - Journalscene.com