High school football practice kicks off at midnight

High School Sports

High school football practice kicks off at midnight

Thomas County Central in Thomasville, Ga., takes the field for practice at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 1, the day schools in Georgia can open preseason practice sessions.

Thomas County Central football players walk to the practice field just before midnight Wednesday in Thomasville to take part in Midnight Madness. The team took the field at 12:01 on a day when schools all over Georgia opened preseason practice sessions with almost 1,000 fans watching.

Yellow Jackets football players grab their pads to suit up for Midnight Madness practice.

Thomas County Central head coach Bill Shaver kicks off the Yellow Jackets football season with a prayer at the edge of the practice field at midnight.

Thomas County Central defensive end Austin Bryant, 16, catches a few winks in the team training room before Midnight Madness practice.

Elijah, 1, cheers from the shoulders of his dad, Torrey Miller, as the Yellow Jackets of Thomas County Central take the field at 12:01 to open their preseason.

About 1,000 crowded the sidelines to watch Thomas County Central start Midnight Madness practice.

Head coach Bill Shaver (right) watches a running play opening his preseason under the lights of the practice field just after midnight at Thomas County Central.

The hits begin the preseason tradition just after midnight on the practice field at Thomas County Central.

Assistant coach Buzz Payne runs players through tackling drills under the lights at Thomas County Central in Thomasville, Ga.

Freddie D. Holton is off and running under a few practice field lights with Thomas County Central putting on the pads to start their preseason.

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Thomas County Central football players walk to the practice field just before midnight Wednesday in Thomasville to take part in Midnight Madness. The team took the field at 12:01 on a day when schools all over Georgia opened preseason practice sessions with almost 1,000 fans watching.

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