Onekama focuses on execution in warm-up for regular season opener

ONEKAMA — Getting hit and making mistakes — sounds like a rough day on the football field.

But, don’t be fooled. It all makes for a successful scrimmage.

“Obviously, it’s very different than a game,” Onekama coach Jim Hunter said after his Portagers scrimmaged Marion at home Friday. “You’re not putting yourself in real game situations, or even running everything you might during a real game. It’s mainly about making sure you’re getting in some plays you want to see the team run.

“And as far as how it ended up, no one was hurt. So to me, that’s a great scrimmage.”

Onekama and the Eagles split snaps and for Hunter, it was an opportunity to see his team put part of its playbook to the test.

“I was more worried about getting a good look at some of our different sets and different formations,” he said. “There was some plays we probably wouldn’t have run against that defense, but you want to see your kids execute.”

And running those plays at game speed, with an opposing defense, was another perk for the Portagers.