The combined middle school football teams have been busy with workouts over the last two weeks at Dawson County Middle School. This will be the first year that both schools have been combined entering the season.

Earlier this summer, the school board voted to combine the two local middle school football teams to be more competitive.

Head Coach Benjy Edwards said: "It allows these players the chance to play together and keep working as one team as they will be at the high school level."

This will be Edwards' second year as a head coach and sixth overall. Last season he guided Riverview Middle School.

The Tigers started practicing in helmets and shoulder pads last week.

"Practice has been good. We have just been in helmets until school starts. Once we put on full pads we will have a better idea," Edwards said.

Coach Edwards and assistant coach Thomy Edwards, his brother, are implementing a new offense that is similar to the one Coach Jeff Lee runs at the high school.

Coach Thomy Edwards led Dawson County Middle School to the league championship last season.

On defense the team will install a 3-4 setup. The defensive concept will mirror the defense run at the high school level.

There are 49 players on this year's middle school team. Most of the team is made up of eighth graders with just a handful of seventh graders.

"There are several guys that look good," said Benjy Edwards.

The Tigers opened with a scrimmage with North Forsyth yesterday. Scores were unavailable at press time.

Dawson County will play its first regular season game on Sept. 5. The game will be at home against Pickens County Middle School.

Kick off will be at 5:30 p.m. for all games this season.