RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) – Members of the Cordova High School football team were split into three groups in practice on Monday.

On the north end of the field at Lancers Stadium, the Lancers’ skilled players of quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends were running drills in game situations. Off to the side were the linemen, who were going through blocking and technique drills.

Running laps school’s track of the field were three soon-to-be Cordova varsity football players. Missing some to all of the Lancers’ workouts that started after the 2016-17 school year ended toward the end of May, the players are putting in their time and efforts to wanting to be part of the team by running some or all of the required 45 miles to run. That is the same amount of miles that current players put in during the summer workouts.

“They are running to get caught up,” said Cordova head coach Darren Nill, who’s had that policy since he took over the program in 2015. “I’ve had kids do it in three days. Normally, kids get done with it in about a week and a half.”

Returning players, who were a part of last year’s team that won a share of the Sierra Valley Conference title with El Dorado and Liberty Ranch, plus incoming juniors and the ones putting their time on the track are preparing for a new season in which there are high hopes in the Lancer camp. Monday was the first day of practice in which this week, per the Sac-Joaquin Section bylaws, is strictly dedicated for prep football players taking part in conditioning drills, plus coaches continuing to work out on offense, defense and special teams.

Next Monday, the Lancers’ varsity and frosh-soph football squads will strap on the shoulder pads and helmets for two full weeks of practices in equipment. That leads into Friday, Aug. 18^th, when Cordova scrimmages at Capital Christian High.

“We’ve always had a slow start in full contact,” Nill said. “We always just want to ease our way into it.”

At Monday’s first practice, all but two kids were present when the varsity Lancers went through their first workouts.

“Sometimes in June or July, we would have anywhere between six to seven kids (not) in practice,” Nill said. “A lot of them were away because of vacation or summer jobs. We have the benefit of a full squad going forward.”

Cordova will play its first game of the season three weeks from today, Friday, Aug. 25^th, against Rio Americano. The game will be played at Del Campo High.