Tiger gridders aren’t exactly roughing it at Camp Moriah this week

They’re  not exactly roughing it.

The St. James High School football team is in the middle of a bonding experiment this week during the squad’s final week of football camp. And the camp is being held...at a camp. Camp Moriah near Steelville to be exact.

There the Tigers are taking time in the mornings, afternoons and evenings to work on football. The rest of the time they have enjoying each others’ company while eating together, sleeping together...and hopefully bonding together, at the old church camp Monday through Friday.

But the Tigers are not without some comforts from home.

“We can bring our own pillow,” said senior Tyler Karnes of the St. James High School football team. “It’s air-conditioned. We’ve got a PlayStation and TV. We’ve even got a (satellite) dish they’re setting up.”

What, not enough time to build a four-cinema theatre?

So much for singing around the campfire and roasting hot dogs.

Certainly not their mom’s and dad’s camping experience. But Tiger head coach Greg Harlan is hoping the time will have been well-spent when the fall season rolls around.

“The field out here is a lot like the field we’ve got to practice on (in St. James), just a little smaller,” Harlan said. “And I think the kids like being away from everybody; being by themselves a little bit.”

Before the week is through Harlan expects around 40 players/campers in camp. “We’ve got a couple on vacation and two or three in band camp who are coming in later,” he said.

Even though the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) has opened up more contact workouts for players over the summer, St. James won’t have any full-pad workouts in camp this week.

They’ll work fundamentals and do some offensive and defensive review, preparing for the official practice, set for Aug. 9.

“We pretty much ran this summer like we had previously,” Harlan said. “I really don’t like a lot of hitting over the summer, due to injuries. And we already have a few of them.”

In fact, the Tigers have already lost two players for the season, as two-way sophomore back Jake Shockley underwent shoulder surgery and junior back-linebacker Dylan Craft had knee surgery to repair his ACL.

A pair of seniors, Karnes and Danny Jernigan, feel getting away this week will be beneficial to the squad.

“I think it’s great,” said Karnes, a wide receiver. “It’s really cool; everybody bunking in bunk beds.

“I feel really good about the season. I’m excited about it. Hitting camp I’ve felt we’ve had really good chemistry and are coming together as a team.”
“I think we’ve bonded this summer,” agrees Jernigan, a tight end. “We’ve come closer together. I think that will allow us to respect each other more.”
Coming off a 1-9 season the Tigers, although still not long on depth, has much more experience and maturity returning this fall.

“I think a lot of us are here to accomplish something,” Jernigan said. “And I think we’re learning a lot more stuff quicker because (the team is older). We grew up together.”

Karnes said in particular this year’s senior group is ready for a big year.

“This entire group has pretty much stayed together over the years,” Karnes said. “We played together in youth football. Now this is our senior year and we want to go out strong.”